Lords: Brexit's impact on Jersey will be "significant"

Thursday 23 March 2017

Jersey's government is welcoming a House of Lords Brexit report, which urges the UK authorities to ensure the Island can be a part of any free trade agreements it signs with countries outside of the EU.

The report also calls on the UK government to support the Island in being included in the UK's membership of the World Trade Organisation.

The document has been produced by the House of Lords European Union Committee, and says Brexit will be "significant" for Jersey, given our, "...unique constitutional relationship both with the UK and, as encapsulated in Protocol 3 to the UK’s Treaty of Accession, with the EU."

It notes that the Island has a positive relationship with the UK government, but points out that it is only when the Brexit negotiations really begin that the true strength of that relationship will be discovered, particularly if Jersey's and UK's priorities are not the same. 

"The real test of this engagement will come as negotiations begin. We call on the Government to ensure that the Crown Dependencies remain fully involved as negotiations proceed, and that their concerns and priorities are properly taken into account by the UK negotiators.

"In particular, the Government must ensure that the Crown Dependencies are kept fully apprised of, and are given the opportunity where appropriate to participate in, future free trade agreements with countries beyond the EU. We also call on the Government to support Guernsey and Jersey in their efforts to ensure that the UK’s WTO membership is extended to cover them, as it already does the Isle of Man.

"While taking into account any future developments, the UK Government must continue to fulfil its constitutional obligations to represent the interests of the Crown Dependencies in international relations, even where these differ from those of the UK, both during the Brexit negotiations and beyond."

The report sets out three conflicting priorities for Jersey:

• Maintenance of their centuries-old constitutional relationship with the UK;
• Notwithstanding the loss of Protocol 3 upon UK withdrawal, retention so far as possible of the benefits of the existing relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the EU;
• The evolution of the Crown Dependencies’ international identities, while respecting the UK’s constitutional obligation to represent them in matters of defence and international relations.

Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst commented: “The Government of Jersey has a positive working relationship with the UK Ministry of Justice, which has responsibility for the Crown Dependencies within Whitehall, and I have regular meetings with Robin Walker MP, Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union. The Lords report reinforces the importance of that dialogue and the impact it will have on the successful representation of Jersey’s position in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations as well as important opportunities for future trading arrangements.”

The Minister for External Relations, Sir Philip Bailhache, added: “The extension of WTO membership is a key priority for Jersey and I am pleased to see that this is called for by the Lords EU Committee. It is also notable that the Committee recognises that Jersey should be given the opportunity, if it so wishes to do so, to participate in future trade agreements with countries beyond the EU. These recommendations are very much in line with our developing international identity as referenced in the 2007 Framework Agreement with the UK."

You can read the full report here.