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WQ.247/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS
BY DEPUTY J. RENOUF OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY 27th MAY 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 3rd JUNE 2025
Question
"Will the Minister state to what extent it is anticipated the recently negotiated deal between the UK and the EU will have an impact in Jersey, including (but not limited to) –
- continuing access by French boats to Jersey waters and the terms on which they fish;
- access by Jersey fish exports to EU, particularly French, markets;
- the continuation of the French ID card scheme; and
- the ability of people from Jersey travelling to the EU to use e-gates?"
Answer
Although the question has been asked of the Minister for External Relations, the four sub-sections fall within the remit of the Department of the Environment (a & b) and Justice and Home Affairs (c & d). Information provided by the relevant departments is set out in the answers below.
- The recently negotiated deal between the UK and EU will have no impact on French vessels accessing Jersey's territorial waters. The Government of Jersey is the licensing authority and there will be no change to any licensing circumstances due to the agreement. Similarly, the terms under which French vessels fish will not change and are bound by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which was introduced following Brexit.
- The Crown Dependencies have the potential to be included within the territorial scope of a future Sanitary and Photo-Sanitary agreement. SPS arrangements generally refer to border checks for animals, plants and products of animal origin (mostly foodstuffs). While the detail of a new agreement is yet to be finalised, it is understood that it will cover fishery and aquaculture products and could therefore be beneficial in removing friction for our agri-food exporters to EU markets, including France.
- The French ID card scheme, which falls within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, is outside the scope of the UK-EU reset deal.
- A passport issued in Jersey is a British passport, and will therefore be subject to the same rules on the use of e-gates as all British passport holders. It is understood that new rules and procedures to enable British passport holders to access e-gates will be phased in between late 2025 and early 2026.
In addition to the above, no agreement has yet been reached on a youth-mobility scheme. However, I have made clear to the UK government that any such scheme should be accessible to Jersey residents and that we should be able to benefit from the arrival of young people from the EU.