Asset Sharing Agreement between the Governments of the United States and Jersey: Ratification

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A decision made 27 February 2015:

Ministerial decision reference MD-C-2015-0027
Decision summary title Ratification of the Asset Sharing Agreement between the Governments of the United States and of Jersey
Decision summary author	External Relations	Is the decision summary public or exempt?		Public
Report title Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Jersey regarding the sharing of confiscated or forfeited assets or their equivalent.
Report author or name of person giving report	External Relations	Is the report public or exempt?		Public
Decision and reason for the decision The Chief Minister decided to lodge ‘au Greffe’ the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Jersey regarding the sharing of confiscated or forfeited assets or their equivalent. The Chief Minister recalled that under the 1959 Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance, which was extended to the Island in 2008, there is an obligation to provide assistance in accordance with that convention. The Chief Minister noted that a delegation from the United States Justice Department visited the Island in 28th January 2015. The Agreement was signed by Kenneth Blanco, a Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General, Timothy Le Cocq signed on behalf of Jersey having been given the necessary authority to do so by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister further noted that the Agreement is not effective until both Jersey and the United States have completed their internal procedures in order to bring it inforce. In Jersey this requires the ratification of the States Assembly.
Resource implications There are no manpower or financial implications save that the Island may receive funds in recognition of any assistance provided under the terms of the Agreement.
Action required External Relations shall:- Inform the States Greffe of the decision Forward the Report and Proposition to the Publications Editor and request that the Greffier of the States arrange for the Report and Proposition to be lodged ‘au Greffe’ for debate at the earliest opportunity.
Signature			Position Senator I J Gorst Chief Minister

Date signed			Effective date of the decision