UK Government team in Jersey to discuss ‘Jexit’

Monday 23 January 2017

A special team of UK politicians is on a two-day visit to the Island to discuss ‘Jexit’ - what Britain’s exit from the EU might mean for Jersey.

The UK Justice Select Committee, headed by Conservative MP Robert Neil, has already been on a similar fact-finding trip to the Isle of Man, and will be going to Guernsey later.

Whilst it’s here, the committee will meet the Chief Minister, the Treasury and Resources Minister, the Minister for Community and Constitutional Affairs, the Minister for the Environment, and the Minister for Economic Development, as well as representatives of Jersey’s fisheries, agricultural and financial services industries.

The committee will also meet the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel and have the opportunity to meet all States members, as well as representatives from some of the Island’s EU national communities.

When Britain joined the Common Market – as it was called back in 1972 – one of the terms that was agreed upon was called Protocol 3 – now Article 255 (5) (c) of the EU Treaties. In simple terms it means Jersey is treated as part of the European Union for the purposes of free trade in goods, but in all other respects is considered to be outside of the EU. Although the Island voluntarily uses EU legislation or the international standards on which they are based. This set up has given the Island a great deal of autonomy and as the original Jersey politicians who struck the deal had hoped, allowed it to benefit from being inside the EU without having to go along with all its rules and regulations.

Quite what happens now following UK voters’ decision to leave the Union is unclear, other than perhaps the Protocol will no longer be in force.

Jersey’s constitutional position is a tricky one – whilst it does enjoy a great deal of freedom – it is not totally independent of the UK. In international negotiations the UK often has a major role in representing the Island, which is way this visit from the Justice Select Committee is seen as being so important.

The committee’s final report, which is expected to be published before the triggering of Article 50, will focus on the following three areas: potential opportunities and risks arising from Brexit; constitutional implications of Brexit on the Crown Dependencies; effectiveness of the communication between the UK Government and those of the Crown Dependencies. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced Article 50 will be triggered in March so that Britain can leave the EU in March 2019, immediately ahead of the next European Parliament elections.

Commenting on the Select Committee’s visit, Chief Minister Ian Gorst said: “We are pleased to have this opportunity to invite members of the Justice Select Committee to Jersey to inform them further about the implications for Jersey of the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU. It will also be an opportunity for States members, the local business community and the Island’s EU nationals to learn more about the inquiry process.”