Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie: Legacy Report 2022-2026

Section de Jersey

Executive Committee of the Section de Jersey of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie

Legacy Report 2022-2026

Introduction  

1. The Executive Committee of the Section de Jersey of Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) has agreed this legacy report for the 2022-2026 term of the States Assembly. The report provides a record of activity during this term of the States Assembly and some recommendations for the 2026-2 the 030 term.

Context

2. The States Assembly has been a member of the APF since 1971, becoming a full member of the organisation in 1980. The Assembly owes its membership to the procedural, historical and cultural significance of the French in Jersey. French remains an  official  language  of  the Assembly  with  Members  able  to  use  it  during  States proceedings if they wish.
3. The objectives of the APF include the spread  and encouragement  of the French language and the promotion of democratic values and civic and human rights. Through the Assembly's membership, States Members are afforded opportunities to exchange with parliamentarians from other member states (similar opportunities arise from the Assembly's membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)). The APF is divided for administrative purposes into regions; the Section de Jersey forms part of the European Region.
4. All States Members are members of the Section de Jersey. However, to take part in the proceedings of the APF, a good standard of spoken French is required. States Members are able to access French lessons with the Alliance Française. The management of the Section is vested in an Executive Committee that comprises a President and no fewer than 3, but no more than 9, other Members. During the 2022-2026 term, the Executive Committee comprised the following Members –

Appointed on 26th September 2022

Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade , President Connétable M.K. Jackson of St. Brelade

Deputy K.F. Morel of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache of St. Clement Deputy H.M. Miles of St. Brelade

Deputy R.S. Kovacs of St. Saviour

Appointed on 18th January 2024

Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter Deputy B.B.de S.V.M. Porée of St. Helier South

Deputy Morel served as Vice-President.

5. The Executive Committee met on 20 occasions (including electronic meetings) during the term. There was no regular schedule of meetings; the Committee met as and when required.

Work during the 2022-2026 Term

APF Conferences

6. A key part of the Executive Committee's role was to determine the composition of delegations to APF Conferences. There is a regular series of conferences organised by the  APF  that  offer  parliamentarians  from  across  the  French-speaking  world  the opportunity to exchange ideas and to discuss matters of mutual interest. There are three key conferences each year which the Executive Committee agreed should, if possible, include representation from the Section de Jersey –

• Conférence des Présidents of the European Region

• Assemblée Générale for the global APF organisation

• Assemblée Régionale for the European Region

7. The work of the APF is also undertaken through 4 Commissions, each with a specific focus, as well as 2 networks (the Réseau des Femmes and the Réseau des Jeune s Parlementaires); each of the Commissions and the Réseaux hold meetings away from the Assemblée Générale. In the past, the Section de Jersey had not been involved in this work. The Executive Committee agreed to learn more about the work of the Commissions in order to determine what involvement, if any, the Section should have. Attendance  by  one  Committee  Member  at  one  meeting  of  the  Commission  de l'Education, de la Culture et de la Communication was also therefore agreed during the term. There was also attendance at online events organised by the Réseau des Femmes and engagement in the work of that network.
8. In conjunction with the Executive Committee of the Jersey Branch of the CPA, the APF Executive Committee agreed to publish more information about attendance at these conferences. Reports were therefore presented to the States in respect of activity in 2023, 2024 and 2025 –

CPA and APF Activities 2023 CPA and APF Activities 2024 CPA and APF Activities 2025

9. The Executive Committee was grateful for the regular interaction with the Department of  External  Relations  and  the  assistance  it  received  from  it  in  relation  to  APF conferences. Ahead of conferences, officers from the Department were on hand to brief Members on matters relevant to the topics of debate and to the parliaments with which Members would interact.

Parlement Francophone des Jeune s

10. Every two years, the APF organises a youth parliament, the Parlement Francophone des Jeune s (PFJ), that runs alongside the Assemblée Générale of that year. The Section de Jersey had in the past sent delegates to the PFJ and, during the 2022-2026 term, the Section resumed this activity: two young Islanders therefore attended the 2024 PFJ and measures were taken before the end of the term for there to be attendance at the 2026 edition.

2025 Conférence des Présidents

11. Perhaps the most significant action undertaken by the Section de Jersey during the term was to host the 2025 Conférence des Présidents of the European Region of the APF. The Assembly had hosted conferences in the past, the last time having been in 2015.
12. From 18th to 20th May 2025, the Section de Jersey welcomed delegations from 12 other democracies. The main element of the conference was held in the States Chamber. Through the contributions of the Directrices of the Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche and Alliance Française Jersey, the Section de Jersey provided the other delegations with a presentation on the status of French in Jersey. The Executive Committee considers this presentation to be beneficial to understanding the importance and role of the language in the Island and has appended a copy of the presentation to this legacy report.
13. The delegates also discussed « le Renforcement du rôle des jeunes adultes dans un développement économique et durable » (Strengthening the role of young adults in sustainable economic development) and the question of « Quelles perspectives de coopération  entre  l'Union  européenne  et  le  Royaume-Uni  dans  le  domaine  de  la défense? » (What are the prospects for cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom in the field of defence?). Favourable feedback was provided to the Executive Committee by the APF regarding the organisation of the conference and the opportunities for debate which it allowed.

Encouraging the use of French and Jersey-Francophone Relations

14. Each year, the month of March is designated as the Mois de la Francophonie and 20th March is known as the Journée de la Francophonie. The Section de Jersey supported these initiatives during the term. In 2023, the President recorded a video in French about the role of the APF and the use of French in Jersey. The video is available on the States Assembly website. In 2025, the President made a statement to the Assembly in French to mark that year's Journée de la Francophonie.
15. In support of the APF's objectives to encourage the French language and international cooperation, the Section de Jersey interacted with other organisations in the Island who work to the same aim. There was regular interaction with the Alliance Française and the Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche. The Executive Committee agreed a policy that, on an ad hoc, basis, small amounts of sponsorship could be provided to both organisations for the activities and events they organise. A total of £3,650 was provided over the four years of the term to this end, whilst the Executive Committee also agreed to sponsor a trophy for the French Section of the Jersey Eisteddfod.

Recommendations for 2026 to 2030

16. The Executive Committee is aware that the Section de Jersey is recognised and welcomed as an active member of the APF; not only through hosting conferences (such as  2025's  Conférence  des  Présidents)  but  also  through  the  presentations  and interactions at the conferences attended by Members. The Committee recommends that this engagement continue.
17. The Committee also recommends work continues on engaging with other parties in the Island who work towards the promotion of French and the Island's relationships with French-speaking  countries;  in  particular  the Alliance  Française,  the  Maison  de  la Normandie et de la Manche, the Department of External Relations and the Honorary Consuls.
18. As part of this engagement, the Committee recommends that consideration be given to the organisation of an event (or events) for French-speaking young people in the Island; for example, a youth debate. The Section de Jersey has regularly identified young people to attend the Parlement Francophone des Jeune s that is organised by the APF every two years. However, attendance at this event is limited to two individuals on each occasion. Alternative opportunities could be arranged in the Island to support the APF's objectives that would allow for more young people to take part and benefit.
19. Despite the active work of the Assembly as a member of the APF, the Executive Committee is aware that this is not work that is currently easily accessible by all Members. The Committee is also aware that the number of States Members who are able to speak French may diminish in number. This could make it more difficult for the Section de Jersey to engage and, in extremis, could lead to questions about the Assembly's membership of the organisation. The Executive Committee does not believe that need be the case. However, it would be beneficial for there to be consideration of how the Assembly's membership of the APF can continue to bring maximum benefit to the institution and to all its Members; the Executive Committee recommends that such consideration be given during the next term.