Thursday 13 December 2012
Guernsey's Deputy Chief Minister, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, has welcomed the Channel Islands' growing profile and international identity following a trip to Brussels.
Deputy Le Tocq spent two days [4 and 5 December] at the Channel Islands Brussels Office (CIBO) last week, where he held a series of meetings with decision-makers, influencers and key political contacts on behalf of the Channel Islands' governments.
Deputy Le Tocq said: "The visit met the objectives of further raising awareness of the Channel Islands political engagement with the EU, our economic contribution to the EU, and our active contribution in other areas as good neighbours. Important new contacts were secured at the European Parliament, in areas such as fighting crime and financial services. "I was delighted to follow on from Senator Bailhache's visit earlier this year, where he too pushed a strong Channel Islands message. I think it is clear that from working together in Brussels our profile as the Channel Islands continues to grow. However we have much to do in order to ensure that we become better understood."
While in Brussels Deputy Le Tocq met with:
- HE Ambassador Philippe Etienne, Permanent Representative of France
- HE Ambassador Eva Descarrega Garcia, Head of the Mission of Andorra to the EU
- Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative member of the civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE) and the organised crime, corruption and money laundering (CRIM) Committees
- Ashley Fox MEP, Conservative member of the economic and monetary affairs (ECON) and (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) IMCO
- Ian Campbell, Head of Scottish Government EU Office
- Mike Vercnocke, Head of City of London Brussels Office
- Cécile Combette-Murin, Director, Lower Normandy Brussels Office
Deputy Le Tocq said: "The meeting with Timothy Kirkhope MEP was particularly insightful - not least as he has just become the European Parliament's rapporteur on their proposal for an EU-wide Passenger Names Record, which is yet to be agreed. I explained that Guernsey and the Channel Islands are part of the Common Travel Area, and that this is an area where we have an interest and expertise. Working with Jersey and CIBO, we will seek to input into thinking around this proposal in the coming months.
"The meeting with the French Ambassador was a timely follow up to the joint Ministerial visit to Paris, and yielded ideas about a possible way the Channel Islands could participate as third countries in certain EU funded regional projects. The meetings also helped us to gain useful further intelligence on developments in relations between the microstates - Andorra, Monaco, San Marino - and the EU, and on Scotland's relations with the UK and EU. In all of these areas there are many synergies and commonalities with the Channel Islands' developing relationships and interests with the EU."
"My visit was timely for both Guernsey and the Channel Islands. The week of my visit was a particularly busy and important one - both for the EU and for the Channel Islands. On 4 December EU Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) approved the six monthly Code of Conduct report, which confirmed Guernsey's continued compliance with the Code, following the amending legislation approved earlier this year. And on 6 December the Commission published its Communication on Tackling Tax Fraud and Evasion, where minimum standards of (third country) good governance in tax matters have been proposed, standards which Guernsey now meets following the Code of Conduct report."
Ends
