15 October 2025
Representatives from Guernsey and Jersey have this week attended the annual political summits with the
regional council of Brittany and departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine, alongside representatives from
Alderney and Sark.
This year’s summits highlighted the continued strength of these regional partnerships and the collaborative
efforts fostered through the Memorandums of Understanding, MoU, between Guernsey, Jersey and
Brittany and Ille et Vilaine respectively. Jersey has benefited from 15 years of joint working with the
departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine, with Guernsey joining the partnership in 2017. Both Guernsey and
Jersey signed a new MoU with the region of Brittany in 2023.
The summits commenced with a morning session focused on links with Brittany. Hosted at the Dinard
catering school, with which Highlands College in Jersey has had strong links for a number of years, the
discussions covered various regional issues. These included wind farms, sharing information on respective
marine spatial plans, economic development issues, immigration matters, as well as maritime links covering
transport, tourism and yachting. It also provided an opportunity to discuss broader political relationships
and areas of mutual interest within Europe and the EU.
The afternoon session was dedicated to strengthening ties with Ille-et-Vilaine. Discussions covered
education, youth mobility, culture, arts and overseas aid.
The two summits were chaired respectively by Stéphane Perrin-Sarzier, Vice-President of the regional
council of Brittany in charge of international relations, and Jean-Luc Chenut, President of the departmental
council of Ille-et-Vilaine. The French State was represented by the diplomatic advisor of the Prefect of
Brittany. Channel Island attendees included: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Deputy Steve Falla, Deputy
Charles Parkison and Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller on behalf of Guernsey; Deputy Kirsten Morel and
Deputy Carolyn Labey on behalf of Jersey; and Conseiller Natalie Tighe on behalf of Sark.
Jersey’s Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said: “The Brittany
Summit has been an invaluable opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in recent years. Political
relations between Jersey and Brittany are strong and there was a desire at the summit on both sides to
take concrete steps towards developing business, sporting and cultural links. These links will forge even
closer relations as we seek to encourage sustainable growth across our jurisdictions.”
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Chief Minister of Guernsey, said: “I was very pleased to lead the delegation
of Guernsey political representatives who attended the summits in Dinard and Rennes this week.
Guernsey’s relationships with Brittany and Ille-et-Vilaine, underpinned by our respective MoUs, are
increasingly important both regionally and strategically. I have been encouraged by the warmth of the
welcome and the practical focus of discussions as we further strengthen our links with our closest European
neighbour.”
The Vice-Presidents of the Britanny Region, Stéphane Perrin-Sarzier and Daniel Cueff, said: "As
neighbours and sharing the belief that cooperation is essential to their development, Brittany and the
Channel Islands have demonstrated, with Brexit, their ability to maintain sincere and constructive dialogue.
We must seize every opportunity to come closer together and forge economic, social, and cultural ties for
our coastal communities, whether Breton or Channel Islands. Coordination of maritime spatial planning
between the Channel Islands and Brittany is essential and beneficial for all. We welcome the very fruitful
discussions we have had."
Jean Luc Chenut, President of Ille-et-Vilaine, said: “This year, the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine is honored
to welcome delegations from Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. During a cooperation plenary session,
we take stock of a year rich in exchanges, notably marked by the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the
islands, in which our elected officials had the pleasure of participating.
“Despite a particularly constrained budgetary context, the partnership with Jersey and Guernsey, patiently
built over the years, remains strong. The geographical proximity of our territories fosters concrete
cooperation on shared issues, at the heart of our common cultures. A precious bond, which demonstrates
our desire to foster local diplomacy based on memory, solidarity, and proximity.”
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