Channel Islands strengthen business and cultural links with France

Monday 12 June 2023

A new partnership will open talks on economic development with Brittany.

Guernsey hosted a meeting with the regional council of Brittany for the first time recently, while also being the stage for the annual political summit with the departmental council of Ille-et- Vilaine.

Guernsey and Jersey signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Brittany, which will open discussions on economic development issues, education, and training, as well as maritime links encompassing transport, tourism, and relationships between ports and marine renewable energies.

The two islands have also renewed their partnership with the departmental council of Ille et Vilaine for another three years. 

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for external relations, said:

“It was a great pleasure to host the annual summit of the governments of Guernsey and Jersey and the authorities of Ille et Vilaine, and to welcome representatives from the regional council of Brittany who joined these engagements for the first time.

“Guernsey has important existing social and cultural links with the department of Ille et Vilaine and our annual summit gives us an opportunity to review the constructive and varied work carried out by our jurisdictions together during the year on matters covered by our partnership."

Pictured (l-r): Deputy Philip Ozouf, Deputy Kristina Moore, Jonathan Le Tocq, and Daniel Cueff.

“Renewing this partnership for a further three years further underlines the value we place on maintaining and strengthening our relationship with the department," continued Deputy Le Tocq.

“The summit also enabled us to reaffirm Guernsey’s continued support for joint overseas aid projects, through the collaboration of the Overseas Aid & Development Commission and the department of Ille et Vilaine.

“I was also pleased to be able to sign a new partnership with the regional council of Brittany, which will enable us to deepen the connections that we have with the whole of this significant region to the south of us.

“In the French political system regions have different mandates and responsibilities to departments and so this new partnership will enable us to focus on new areas as well as build on our existing links, working with some of our closest neighbours. I look forward to the further development of projects under this cooperation agreement to the benefit of us all.”

Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the regional council of Brittany said:

“While Brexit could have divided us, it has instead helped to bring the Channel Islands becoming closer to Brittany and Normandy. I thank our partners in Jersey and Guernsey for having favoured the path of dialogue and cooperation. I am convinced that this path will best defend the interest of all our citizens.”

At the meetings Guernsey was represented by Deputy Le Tocq; Jersey was represented by the Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore, and Minister for External Relations, Deputy Philip Ozouf; the departmental council of Ille et Vilaine was represented by Michèle Motel, departmental councillor responsible for international solidarity and cooperation; the regional council of Brittany was represented by its Vice President, Daniel Cueff; and the Préfecture of Brittany, representing the French State in the region, was represented by diplomatic advisor Jean-Baptiste Chauvin.

Pictured top (l-r): Deputy Philip Ozouf, Deputy Kristina Moore, Daniel Cueff, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Patrice Gautier.