(Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the
Americas): Between Monday 23 and Thursday 26 November,
2020 I chaired, with , the Eighth
UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council. The meeting
was held virtually and was attended by OT Leaders and elected
representatives from Anguilla, Ascension Island, Bermuda, the
British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands,
Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena, the Sovereign Base
Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Tristan da Cunha and the Turks
and Caicos Islands.
The themes of discussion at this year’s Council included the
impacts of the COVID-19 global health pandemic; the
constitutional relationship; economic resilience, the UK’s exit
from the European Union; trade; border security; prisons;
protecting the vulnerable (including mental health, domestic
violence and children); the International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) Instruments Implementation (III) code; environmental
protection and COP26.
The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon addressed the Council. Other Ministerial colleagues
attending discussions included The Rt Hon Lord (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), The Rt Hon
, QC, MP (Ministry of Justice), The Rt Hon , MP (Home Office), , MP
(Ministry of Defence), , MP (Department for International Trade), , MP (Department for Health and Social Care) and
, MP (Department for Transport).
Members of the Council set out a number of important commitments
and areas for joint work in the year ahead.
We discussed the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic, where
the Territories expressed their thanks to the UK for its support.
We also discussed the constitutional relationship and held
discussions on economic resilience, trade and the UK’s departure
from the EU, where we confirmed our commitment to supporting the
Overseas Territories in building successful and resilient
economies and to taking the needs of the Territories into account
when negotiating new trading relationships and when considering
new funding programmes.
We discussed how we could better support vulnerable groups in the
Overseas Territories, committing to strengthen mental health
systems; to identify opportunities and take measures to tackle
domestic abuse and to explore whether a children’s commissioner
role or similar might be appropriate for each Territory.
We recognised the importance of the biodiversity of the
Territories and agreed to work together on ambitious action to
tackle climate change at COP26 and agreed to work together on
compliance with international maritime conventions.
We also set out programmes of work to support border security and
prisons in the Territories.
We agreed a joint communiqué which was issued following the
conclusion of the conference and was published on the GOV.UK
website.
The communiqué and an associated press statement reflect the
commitment of the Governments of the Overseas Territories and of
the UK to continue to work in partnership to achieve the vision
set out in the June 2012 White Paper: The Overseas
Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability.
In line with our commitment in the White Paper, we will continue
to report to Parliament on progress by Government departments.
