In 2016, Britain decided to make the monumental move to leave the European Union, leaving a long and uncertain road not only for the UK Government but also all OTs.
As part of the Governments and CIGOs efforts, the JMC and OTs ministers on European Negotiations (JMC-OT-EN) is a series of meetings between the UK ministers involved in the negotiations and all OT leaders.
The 12th July 2017 saw The Hon. Alden McLaughlin and Mr Eric Bush join other OT leaders for a networking lunch hosted by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for the Overseas Territories and Robin Walker, DExEU Minister of State to discuss the current state of Brexit as a whole with specific mentions on a variety of topics, including:
Future Trade – Lord Price, Minister for Trade, Department for International Trade
- The UK Government is fully committed to involving the OTs as the Government prepares for exiting the EU
- The OTs are not currently included in the global rules-based trading system, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), nor in the majority of EU free trade agreements with the exception of a handful of economic partnership agreements
EU market access/agricultural and fisheries exports – Minister Walker, supported by Alexia Weeple, Deputy Head, Devolution Team, (DEFRA)
- The fisheries and agricultural industries in the OTs operate on a comparatively small scale, their strategic importance is recognized, including the significant contribution they make to the GDP
EU Funding – Minister Walker, supported by Rachel Turner, Director General Economic Development, DfID
Will be available for:
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- OTs with European Development Fund (EDF) bilateral allocations
- EDF regional/thematic funds
- For BEST funds
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Borders and immigration – Minister Walker, supported by Mark Doran, Deputy Director for EU Exit Immigration Policy, Home Office