UK Politician Urges Jersey To Establish Brussels Base

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

20 November 2002

UK Liberal Democrat politician, Lord Newby has advised Jersey to establish a base in Brussels in order to give it more of a say in decisions made by the European Union, according to a recent Jersey Evening Post report.

Speaking at last week's Institute of Directors dinner, Lord Newby suggested that given the increasing power wielded by multilateral organisations, and the fact that the EU is likely to be somewhat preoccupied in the run-up to its enlargement, the Channel Island jurisdiction would do well to make itself a little more visible to the European community.

'The question is whether Jersey can carry on with splendid isolation or should think about some kind of structured formal relationship with the EU,' the JEP quoted the Lib Dem peer as observing.

'The EU, particularly in its enlarged form, will be focusing on sorting out its internal problems. It's not really going to be thinking about Jersey unless it thinks Jersey is breaking some rules that it thinks are important, at which point it will bark very loudly.'

Lord Newby went on to explain that:

'That's what has been happening this year, in effect. And Jersey will feel permanently aggrieved because it won't be involved in the decision making.'

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