News
25 Nov 2024
Channel Islands ministers hold maritime and energy talks with French counterparts
Renewable energy ambitions, 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, and Home Affairs committee president, Deputy Rob Prow, were joined by three Jersey ministers for remote 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”. 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. »
The French Prefect of the Channel and North Sea, Benoît De Guibert, and the Normandy Prefect, 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.