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Islands working on fishing deal with France

WORK is ongoing to sign a new fishing agreement with Normandy after Brexit to allow both jurisdictions to fish in each other’s waters.

The delegates at the annual political summit between Normandy and representatives from Guernsey, Alderney and Jersey, which was held in Cherbourg. Left to right: region of Normandy president Herve Morin; Policy & Finance chairman and the States of Alderney vice-president James Dent; Cite de la Mer in Cherbourg president Bernard Cauvain; Conseil Departemental of La Manche president Marc Lefèvre; region of Normandy vice-president Anne-Marie Cousin; Maison de Normandie et de La Manche chairman Jean Marc Julienne; Policy & Resources member responsible for external affairs in Guernsey Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq; and Jersey External Relations minister Senator Ian Gorst.
The delegates at the annual political summit between Normandy and representatives from Guernsey, Alderney and Jersey, which was held in Cherbourg. Left to right: region of Normandy president Herve Morin; Policy & Finance chairman and the States of Alderney vice-president James Dent; Cite de la Mer in Cherbourg president Bernard Cauvain; Conseil Departemental of La Manche president Marc Lefèvre; region of Normandy vice-president Anne-Marie Cousin; Maison de Normandie et de La Manche chairman Jean Marc Julienne; Policy & Resources member responsible for external affairs in Guernsey Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq; and Jersey External Relations minister Senator Ian Gorst. / Guernsey Press

Cherbourg hosted the annual political summit between Guernsey, Jersey and Normandy representatives on Friday.

As well as discussion on Brexit, it saw the re-signing of a cooperation agreement, which was first agreed with Jersey, La Manche and the region of Lower Normandy in January 2015 and renewed in September 2016.

As part of the cooperation, six jurisdictions, including the Upper and Lower Normandy regions, following their unification in September 2016, and Alderney and Sark meet to explore opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Policy & Resources member Jonathan Le Tocq, who is responsible for external relations, said it was a pleasure to renew the agreement for the next three years during such a significant time.

‘As we work towards the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, we are seeking stability and to minimise disruption caused by the UK exit,’ he said.

This includes seeking agreement to manage how fisheries matters and territorial waters will be affected, which the Channel Islands and the French region share common ground on.

‘It is our desire to be able to settle these issues directly to protect our interests, ensure we conserve our marine environment and balance our interests in cross-border trade,’ he said.

‘I look forward to continuing these discussions as we look to strengthen our relationship with Normandy and France, for our mutual benefit and where our interests are aligned.’

The region’s representatives are currently looking into a similar agreement for Guernsey fishermen to the 19-year-old Granville Bay Treaty, which sees both Jersey and French fishermen able to fish in each jurisdictions’ waters.

‘I am delighted that we have a consensus with our cousins from the Channel Islands on the willingness to maintain the Granville Bay Agreement with Jersey and implement a similar type of agreement with Guernsey,’ said region of Normandy president Herve Morin.

‘We are going to talk to our respective ministers as well as Brussels in order to obtain the possibility of reaching a local agreement on the latter when the competency relies on member states and the European Union.’The summit was attended by Policy & Resources for External Relations Deputy Le Tocq, Jersey Minister for External Relations Ian Gorst, Normandy region president Herve Morin and Conseil Departemental president of La Manche Marc Lefevre.

Policy & Finance chairman and the States of Alderney vice-president James Dent also attended the meeting.

The next summit will be hosted in Jersey in 2020.

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