In one year’s time, on 29 March 2019, the UK will formally leave the EU, ending its 45-year membership of the union – a move which will also bring an end to many of Jersey’s existing trade and legal arrangements with Brussels.
Chief Minister Ian Gorst said that he wanted to reaffirm that making sure that EU citizens already living here can remain a part of the Island’s community is a priority for the government.
‘Ensuring that the Island has the right immigration and migration arrangements will be essential to our post-Brexit position, as will ensuring that we have the correct Customs and trading arrangements,’ he said.
‘I want to repeat the commitment I made to the EU citizens living and working in Jersey following the UK referendum. We value the important contribution you make to Island life.
‘The UK has laid out plans to recognise the rights of EU nationals already living in the UK through a settled-status scheme, and we will do the same.’
The Chief Minister added that Jersey’s priorities during Brexit negotiations included:
Maintaining the Island’s fundamental relationship with the United Kingdom, including membership of the Common Travel Area, a common Customs territory and
freedom of movement of capital.
Continuing the benefits of our existing relationship with the EU, including access to the goods markets on the same terms as the UK, access to the EU’s financial services markets and securing the same deal as the UK for the movement of British nationals in the EU.
Ensuring that Jersey builds agreements and relationships to benefit from global opportunities, including with non-EU markets.
Senator Gorst said that although Islanders were unable to vote in the UK’s EU membership referendum, they had been and would continue to be affected by the consequences of Brexit.
‘It represents one of the most fundamental challenges that Jersey has faced in a generation, requiring a critical analysis of our international priorities, relationships and legislation,’ he said.
‘Before the referendum took place, we had already begun contingency planning, including for a leave vote.
‘That work ensured that we were in a strong position when the result was announced and were able to put into place the structures needed to make the policy, resources and legal changes necessary to protect Jersey’s interests.
‘Early on we publicly set out a series of key objectives, outlining our expectations for the negotiating process and for the outcome of Brexit for Jersey.
‘We have refined and communicated these objectives as the negotiations between the UK and EU have progressed.’
