THE UK government has formally raised concerns over the French ID card travel scheme extension in a letter sent to Jersey’s Home Affairs Minister, it has emerged.
The letter, which was sent in the wake of a States Assembly vote to extend the scheme, signals potential tensions between Jersey and Westminster as the Island seeks to maintain post-Brexit travel links with France.
The States Assembly voted unanimously for a proposition from Deputy Philip Bailhache last week asking Deputy Mary Le Hegarat to extend the initiative, which allows French nationals to travel to Jersey for day trips using only their national identity cards.
The scheme was first trialled in 2023 after French visitor numbers declined due to post-Brexit rules requiring passports at the border.
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat gave her backing to maintaining the current French ID card travel scheme for day trips, but acknowledged that the continued acceptance of national identity cards in place of passports would “at least to some extent” diminish border security.
The minister will now need to find an exemption for Jersey to the Electronic Travel Authorisation regime expected to be brought in by the UK later this year.
Deputy Le Hegarat recently said she was “considering how such a scheme will continue to operate in practice”.
“Once I have identified a preferred approach, I will need to engage with the UK Government to inform them of our decision,” she explained.
“That process will take some time, so I’m not in a position to comment further at this stage.”
But it has now emerged that Deputy Le Hegarat has been sent a letter by her UK counterparts outlining concerns.
The JEP requested a copy of the letter, but this was refused by the Government of Jersey.
The government pointed to Article 41 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, which provides an exemption for information relating to the formulation or development of policies if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between Jersey and the United Kingdom or any other state, international organisation, or international court.
