Guernsey and Jersey attend annual political summits with Brittany and Ille-et-Vilaine

Representatives from Guernsey and Jersey have this week attended the annual political summits with the regional council of Brittany and departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine, alongside representatives from Alderney and Sark.

This year's summits highlighted the continued strength of these regional partnerships and the collaborative efforts fostered through the Memorandums of Understanding, MoU, between Guernsey, Jersey and Brittany and Ille et Vilaine respectively. Jersey has benefited from 15 years of joint working with the departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine, with Guernsey joining the partnership in 2017. Both Guernsey and Jersey signed a new MoU with the region of Brittany in 2023.

The summits commenced with a morning session focused on links with Brittany. Hosted at the Dinard catering school, with which Highlands College in Jersey has had strong links for a number of years, the discussions covered various regional issues. These included wind farms, sharing information on respective marine spatial plans, economic development issues, immigration matters, as well as maritime links covering transport, tourism and yachting. It also provided an opportunity to discuss broader political relationships and areas of mutual interest within Europe and the EU.

The afternoon session was dedicated to strengthening ties with Ille-et-Vilaine. Discussions covered education, youth mobility, culture, arts and overseas aid.

The two summits were chaired respectively by Stéphane Perrin-Sarzier, Vice-President of the regional council of Brittany in charge of international relations, and Jean-Luc Chenut, President of the departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine. The French State was represented by the diplomatic advisor of the Prefect of Brittany. Channel Island attendees included: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Deputy Steve Falla, Deputy Charles Parkison and Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller on behalf of Guernsey; Deputy Kirsten Morel and Deputy Carolyn Labey on behalf of Jersey; and Conseiller Natalie Tighe on behalf of Sark.

Jersey's Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said: "The Brittany Summit has been an invaluable opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in recent years. Political relations between Jersey and Brittany are strong and there was a desire at the summit on both sides to take concrete steps towards developing business, sporting and cultural links. These links will forge even closer relations as we seek to encourage sustainable growth across our jurisdictions."

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Chief Minister of Guernsey, said: "I was very pleased to lead the delegation of Guernsey political representatives who attended the summits in Dinard and Rennes this week. Guernsey's relationships with Brittany and Ille-et-Vilaine, underpinned by our respective MoUs, are increasingly important both regionally and strategically. I have been encouraged by the warmth of the welcome and the practical focus of discussions as we further strengthen our links with our closest European neighbour."

The Vice-Presidents of the Britanny Region, Stéphane Perrin-Sarzier and Daniel Cueff, said: "As neighbours and sharing the belief that cooperation is essential to their development, Brittany and the Channel Islands have demonstrated, with Brexit, their ability to maintain sincere and constructive dialogue. We must seize every opportunity to come closer together and forge economic, social, and cultural ties for our coastal communities, whether Breton or Channel Islands. Coordination of maritime spatial planning between the Channel Islands and Brittany is essential and beneficial for all. We welcome the very fruitful discussions we have had."

Jean Luc Chenut, President of Ille-et-Vilaine, said: "This year, the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine is honored to welcome delegations from Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. During a cooperation plenary session, we take stock of a year rich in exchanges, notably marked by the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the islands, in which our elected officials had the pleasure of participating.

"Despite a particularly constrained budgetary context, the partnership with Jersey and Guernsey, patiently built over the years, remains strong. The geographical proximity of our territories fosters concrete cooperation on shared issues, at the heart of our common cultures. A precious bond, which demonstrates our desire to foster local diplomacy based on memory, solidarity, and proximity."​