Channel Islands ministers hold maritime and energy talks with French counterparts

Tuesday 26 November 2024

• Offshore wind farms on the agenda for discussions
• Ministers sign SLA for emergency planning
• French delegation to visit in summer 2025

Renewable energy, emergency planning and marine spatial plans were discussed by Channel Islands ministers on Monday 25 November, during positive engagements with three senior regional representatives of the French state.

Guernsey's External Affairs Minister, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Minister for the Environment and Infrastructure, Deputy Linsday de Sausmarez, and Home Affairs committee president, Deputy Rob Prow, were joined by three Jersey ministers for online meetings with their French counterparts, to strengthen diplomatic relationships and identify future areas for collaboration relating to the energy and maritime sectors.

Jersey's Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, was among those focusing on offshore wind projects in the region, and Jersey's Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, signed a Service Level Agreement with Deputy Prow and the Prefect of La Manche, Xavier Brunetière, to "provide information for emergency planning purposes in the event of a nuclear or radiological incident on the Cotentin Peninsula".

The French Prefet of the Channel and North Sea, Benoît De Guibert, and the Normandy Prefet, Jean-Benoît Albertini, also engaged with Channel Islands delegates, including Jersey's Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst.

The meetings were due to take place in person, in Jersey, but weather-related travel disruption led to a postponement of the French delegation's visit. The intention is to reschedule for summer 2025.

Deputy Gorst said:

"Jersey, Guernsey and France are close partners across a range of areas and collaboration benefits us all. We continue to work alongside our French and Guernsey colleagues and we recognise the importance of regular dialogue, particularly when it comes to renewable energy and marine protection.

"It is significant that the Prefet delegation were due to visit for in-person meetings for the first time, in an official capacity this week, and I look forward to welcoming colleagues from France and Guernsey to Jersey next year to build on our discussions and progress tripartite cooperation across these critical areas."

Deputy Le Tocq said:

"As part of our good neighbour policy with France the engagement with the Prefets supports the commitment from both Guernsey and Jersey to cooperation with the French State. The sharing of information is valuable in framing how Guernsey, Jersey and France develop the use of the seas around the Channel Islands, as well as understanding the potential impact that our plans may have on each other."

Préfet of la Manche, Xavier Brunetière, said:

"I welcome the signing of this Service Level Agreement relating to the sharing of information in matters of civil security, which marks the common willingness to further our discussions in order to guarantee rapid and relevant responses in the event of a nuclear incident."