Brussels meeting ‘essential part of engagement with EU’
UKRAINE, energy security and climate change were among the main discussions points between EU partners and Guernsey and Jersey’s leads on external relations when they visited Brussels this week.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq and Jersey’s minister for external relations, Deputy Philip Ozouf, both met representatives from the Czech Republic, Malta, Poland, Switzerland and the head of the City of London Office in Brussels.
Also on the agenda was financial services, in particular sustainable finance, Guernsey and Jersey’s shared European heritage, and the importance of people-to-people links between the island’s and EU partners.
It was the first time such a visit had taken place since March 2020.
Deputy Le Tocq said it was a pleasure to meet again with representatives in Brussels for the first time since the pandemic.
‘This is an essential part of our valued engagement with EU partners, supporting our long-standing good neighbour policy as we continue to work with the EU institutions on various matters. I was pleased to be able to reiterate Guernsey’s support to Ukraine, including on sanctions, and underline our alignment with EU partners.’
COP27, the annual international climate change conference, started on Sunday in Sharm-El-Sheikh. The States of Jersey has sent a political representative, but Guernsey has not.
‘We were pleased to continue engagement on financial services and focus on areas such as sustainable finance and addressing climate change alongside European stakeholders, with whom we share our heritage,’ said Deputy Le Tocq.
The two deputies also met with the EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginius Sinkevicius.
Deputy Ozouf said having face to face meetings with senior Brussels representatives gave them the opportunity to explain the value of the islands.
‘Continued engagement with European partners and institutions can ensure Jersey is better understood. This matters so much for future jobs and growth in the island, and I look forward to positively following-up on the range of topics including fishing, market access, digital and trade-in-services.’
He said he was struck and heartened by the strong support showing to the people of Ukraine by the EU, and understood the important role Jersey had to play.
