Common Policy for External Relations

COMMON POLICY FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The Council of Ministers,

Noting that the Minister for External Relations shall, concurrently with the Chief Minister, conduct Jersey's external relations in accordance with the Common Policy agreed by the Council of Ministers, and with the support of the Ministry for External Relations;

Recalling the distinct history of Jersey, which was part of the Duchy of Normandy from 933 through the conquest of England in 1066, elected to remain loyal to the English Crown when King John lost Normandy in 1204, was granted its Royal Seal in 1279, and maintains the roles of Lieutenant Governor and Bailiff as appointees of the Crown;

Recalling that Jersey is not a sovereign state, but has enjoyed domestic autonomy since 1204, acquired fiscal autonomy through a series of Royal Charters, and is a self-governing, democratic jurisdiction with the power of self-determination;

Noting the warm fraternal relationship between Jersey and the United Kingdom, discharged through the United Kingdom government on behalf of the Crown, including participation together with Guernsey and the Isle of Man in a customs union and in the Common Travel Area;

Noting Jersey's deep historic, cultural and familial connections and economic links with Normandy and Brittany, and with France as a whole;

Noting Jersey's desire for good neighbourly relations with the European Union, including participation via the United Kingdom in selected aspects of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement binding the United Kingdom and the European Union; and Jersey's desire for warm bilateral relations with European nations whether within or outside the European Union;

Endorsing the framework for developing the international identity of Jersey signed by the United Kingdom and Jersey on 1 May 2007, in particular that Jersey has an international identity which is different from that of the United Kingdom and that the United Kingdom supports the principle of Jersey further developing its international identity;

Recalling the Interim Findings of the Island Identity Policy Development Board in its Report dated 11 May 2021, proposing a vision of Jersey's strong and growing sense of distinctive identity as a platform for confident and expansive global engagement;

Noting Jersey's participation, as appropriate, in the United Kingdom's Free Trade Agreements with other countries around the world;  

Acknowledging that Jersey has the right, under terms of entrustments granted by the United Kingdom, to negotiate and conclude Agreements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, Tax Information Exchange Agreements, and other agreements relating to taxation that provide for exchange of information on tax matters to the OECD standard; and that Jersey also has the right under individual entrustments to negotiate and conclude Bilateral Agreements for the Promotion and Protection of Investments, and Asset Recovery Agreements as appropriate; Recognising that international identity is developed effectively through effective plurilateral and multilateral engagement, and through meeting international standards and obligations;

Recognising that the Island's current and future prosperity is intrinsically linked with its outward-facing international connections, including trade, and with the Island's network of international agreements with priority jurisdictions;

Welcoming the active engagement of States Members in the External Relations Common Policy In-Committee debate, which took place on 22 September 2022, in line with the Scrutiny Panel's review of External Relations processes S.R.4/2020;

Decides on the following principles for the conduct of external relations, namely to:

1. Protect Jersey's unique constitution, and its domestic and fiscal autonomy;
2. Promote Jersey's international identity and good reputation as a responsible global actor committed at home and abroad to the rule of law, international standards, and respect for internationally recognised human and labour rights including racial, gender and LGBTQ+ equality;
3. Serve Jersey's best economic interests by promoting a strong, diversified and internationally-connected economy, safeguarding its competitive position as a platform for global business and promoting growth through trade and investment;
4. Promote Jersey's island identity abroad, together with a greater spirit of international awareness at home;
5. Join with other jurisdictions and delivery partners in supporting sustainable development and poverty reduction in developing countries, and in providing assistance to victims of natural disasters, persecution and conflict;
6. Ensure Jersey's international engagement maximises opportunities for our children and young people, helping to broaden aspiration and ambition, while fostering increased awareness of how external developments can impact Jersey's prosperity and success.
7. Advance Jersey's objectives in the areas of climate change and sustainability through international engagement, and with reference to efforts to achieve domestic carbon neutrality.

With reference to these principles, the 100 Day Plan, the Common Strategic Policy and the Government Plan, and the contributions from States Members during the In-Committee debate on the Common Policy held on 22 September 2022 in the States Assembly, the Council of Ministers places particular priority on the following areas of activity under the Common Policy on External Relations over the course of its term of office:

1. Jersey will maintain positive relations with the Bailiwick of Guernsey and with the Isle of Man, coordinating across the three Crown Dependencies on matters of mutual interest in external relations including with respect to the United Kingdom, and

through joint representation in Brussels and Caen; and where advantageous working with the Bailiwick of Guernsey to deliver common services to the benefit of the people of the Channel Islands.

2. Jersey will continue to engage positively with the Government of the United Kingdom, and with Whitehall departments, across the full span of shared interests in policy and delivery; and will continue to engage positively across the Parliament of the United Kingdom, on a cross-party basis, so that the Island remains well-positioned to work with United Kingdom Governments drawn from any part of the political spectrum. Supported by the Jersey London Office in all such interactions, Jersey will continue to uphold the special and enduring constitutional arrangements which link the Island with the United Kingdom.
3. Jersey will continue to develop and enhance relations with France, as Jersey's closest neighbour, placing particular emphasis on the close historical regional ties with Normandy and Brittany, including through the work of the Bureau des Iles Anglo- Normandes in Caen. This engagement will recognise the many common interests at both regional and national level, including the economy, trade, and cooperation in support of opportunities for Jersey's children and young people.
4. Notwithstanding special emphasis on France, Jersey will also endeavour to maintain positive bilateral relations with other European nations, including particular focus on those which have the largest diaspora communities residing on the Island, those with the network of Honorary Consuls, and priority countries identified in the European Relations Strategy; this will be done on the basis of engagement with the European diplomatic community in London, directly in European capitals and with communities in Jersey.
5. Jersey will participate actively in the British-Irish Council, including by hosting biannual Summits in due sequence, in order to help promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of the British Isles.
6. The Council of Ministers will support the work of Members of the States Assembly with the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie, the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
7. Jersey will work to develop and enhance relations with the institutions of the European Union, supported by the Channel Islands Brussels Office in all such interactions. Jersey will continue to respect the implementation and management of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, and where relevant will attend the Specialised Committees established under the Agreement.
8. Following assessment of the impact to Jersey of participation in the Free Trade Agreements concluded between the United Kingdom and other countries beyond the European Union, Jersey will seek to participate to the fullest extent advantageous to the island. This will include, where relevant, through attending the Specialised Committees established under such Agreements.

9. Jersey will work with the UK and other governments to collaborate on areas of mutual opportunity and challenge, including: facilitating flows of appropriately skilled individuals wishing to take up employment on the Island; exploring potential for reciprocal cooperation, for example in respect of research and development in healthcare and the digital economy; and pursuing opportunities for improved connectivity and ease of travel.
10. Jersey will seek to sustain a strong international profile that reflects the inherent value of Jersey's global connectivity, supported by the development of strong governmental, community and commercial partnerships with priority non-EU markets in line with the Global Relations Strategy. In so doing, Jersey will develop the Island's international reputation as a centre of excellence and an outstanding place to do business. Jersey will share its experience as a well-run jurisdiction and international centre for trade in services, and seek to learn from the success of others.
11. As part of this, Jersey will work to develop its own bilateral partnerships outside the United Kingdom and European Union, including through the negotiation and conclusion of its own international agreements under entrustment, and by working in close coordination with the United Kingdom both in London and through the FCDO's overseas posts.
12. In addition, Jersey will seek to engage with multilateral and plurilateral institutions, including the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Financial Action Task Force (on Money Laundering) (FATF), and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, to contribute to the development of international standards and to protect the Island's good reputation as trusted and responsible international partner. Jersey will build on its current, active participation in the Commonwealth, through the Secretariat, Enterprise and Investment Council, Parliamentary Association, and other Commonwealth bodies.
13. In concert with domestic action to reduce carbon emissions, Jersey will actively participate in international efforts to tackle climate change, including through membership of the Paris Agreement and by seeking to nurture the growing activities of the sustainable finance industry on the Island.
14. As a responsible global actor, Jersey will implement United Nations and United Kingdom sanctions to counter actions or policies that threaten international peace and security, human rights, respect for democratic principles or the international rule of law; or to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism and the financing of proliferation.
15. Jersey will support the Law Officers' Department in the provision of Mutual Legal Assistance to and in the lawful recovery and return and/or sharing of forfeited or confiscated assets, where reciprocal agreements exist.
16. The Minister for International Development, through the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, will engage in poverty reduction and capacity building activities in developing countries, and will undertake technical assistance.

17. Jersey will undertake international engagement to maximise opportunities for our children and young people, and with direction from Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES), seek to expand options for student exchange, cooperation across primary, secondary and higher education institutions, and the development and availability of learning opportunities.
18. Jersey will promote cultural, heritage and sporting relations with overseas partners by building on Jersey's shared history and longstanding links around the world, and seek to better understand how others approach and embed improved wellbeing within their communities. This will be undertaken with special reference to island's global diaspora' and overseas communities residing in Jersey.

Council of Ministers 15 November 2022