Jersey and Guernsey to establish joint office in France

The offshore domiciles will open an office in Caen to represent both islands’ interest with French authorities. The Bureau des Iles Anglo-Normandes will replace the Bureau de Jersey. Expected to launch in early 2014, it will be funded jointly by Guernsey and Jersey.

Senator Sir Philip Bailhace, Jersey’s minister for external relations, said: “our objective remains to maintain and develop mutually beneficial links with Lower Normandy, Brittany, La Manche and Ille-et-Vilaine. I am delighted that this new partnership with Guernsey will enable us to share the financial costs and will help ups to build stronger relationships with the French central government in Paris.”

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Guernsey’s deputy chief minister, added: “this is a hugely constructive step which we and our colleagues are taking together. BIAN is not a new service development along the lines of the establishment of the Channel Islands Brussels Office; rather this is a more efficient and effective use of existing external relations budget.”

He concluded: “working together more formally, I am sure that we can achieve more.”