Islands Seek Leadership For Brussels Office

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

30 August 2010

The Channel Islands, Guernsey and Jersey, have announced that they are seeking to recruit high-calibre representatives for the roles of “Director of European Affairs” and “European Affairs Adviser” for the soon-to-be-opened Channel Islands’ Brussels office.

The States of Guernsey and the States of Jersey have been working together, since March, to establish the Brussels office in order to strengthen links with Europe. Both governments consider the office to be essential in achieving effective representation for the Channel Islands in international fora. The two governments seek to gain sway in particular in forthcoming EU talks on reforming financial markets regulation, as well as other ongoing regulatory developments that may impact the islands.

Guernsey’s Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Trott, said: “Guernsey and Jersey’s domestic success is dependent on its ability to engage and trade with the rest of the world. Therefore, Brussels, as the administrative centre of Europe, and a global hub for business and politics, is where we need to be and where we need to engage.”

The governments said that the office would also focus on EU policy that might affect other sectors, not solely financial services. The governments noted that EU policy also has ramifications on the island in as far as the Channel Islands is included in the EU customs territory, and can be considered within the EU for free trade in agricultural products, and that the islands' airspace and territorial seas are surrounded by EU regulated airspace and EU waters.

Jersey’s Chief Minister, Terry Le Sueur, added:

“These roles provide a unique opportunity to shape European engagement for the Channel Islands. By combining resources, we can establish a small but effective office to represent both our interests. Since the EU interests of the Islands are well aligned, we can achieve more influence by working together.”

“The people appointed will work closely with government, regulators and, through the islands’ governments, business and industry to ensure that the EU Institutions and key European governments can gain a better understanding of the Channel Islands.”

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