Guernsey delegates attend Honorary Consul conference in London

Saturday 24 November 2018

Guernsey’s French and German Honorary Consuls have recently attended a combined conference in London with their UK colleagues.

The joint French and German Honorary Consuls conference took place at both the German Embassy, Belgravia and the French Embassy, Kensington Palace Gardens, where there were political updates from both the German Ambassador, Peter Wittig, and his French counter-part, Ambassador Jean-Pierre Jouyet, and then separate working parties each Embassy with briefings from Berlin, Paris and London.

Odile Blanchette, French Honorary Consul to Guernsey said: "This was an important and useful meeting and a great opportunity to discuss our cooperation and to share local feedback and views with our colleagues elsewhere in the UK."

Chris Betley, German Honorary Consul to Guernsey, added: "The timing of the conference coincided with Theresa May’s Brexit agreement, the Cabinet’s approval of the same, and the resignations that followed, so the on-going reaction and feedback from an EU perspective was enlightening. There appears to be a pragmatic approach to the inevitable, with plans seemingly in place, as far as it is possible, to deal with Brexit. There is an appreciation for the difficult position in which the UK’s Prime Minister finds herself, and a watching brief on the changing dynamics."

There are 18 French Honorary Consuls located throughout the UK, and 17 German Honorary Consuls. Honorary Consuls support and complement the work of the German and French Embassies for consular duties, cultural cooperation, promotion of trade and commerce as well as helping to foster positive relationships with their own particular region.

Pictured: The French and German Ambassadors and The Honorary Consuls to the UK