UK Prime Minister joined elected leaders and representatives at the Joint
Ministerial Council to discuss topics including health, the
environment and economy.
The Joint Ministerial Council (JMC), which was held virtually
from 23-26 November, has been a chance to celebrate the special
partnership between the UK and the Overseas Territories (OTs).
UK Prime Minister joined elected leaders at the JMC, and
representatives from OTs and the UK held wide ranging discussions
on a number of topics, including economic issues, COVID-19
response and recovery, protecting vulnerable groups and
protecting the environment in both the run up to and beyond
COP26.
Leaders heard from His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, ahead
of discussions on the environment and COP26, showing the
importance the UK puts on its relationship with the Overseas
Territories and recognising their huge contribution to our
biodiversity.
The UK outlined support for border security, prisons and criminal
justice in the Overseas Territories. At the conclusion of the
JMC, UK Ministers and OT Leaders agreed a joint communique which
can be found here.
Prime Minister , speaking at the opening of the JMC earlier this week
said:
The UK is absolutely committed to you, to your futures and to
our partnership.
As we go forward and recover from this pandemic, we want to
make sure that we build back greener and that we look after
island economies that are so vulnerable to climate change.
In spite of everything, of the difficulties we are going
through, we remember that we are united by deep ties of kinship
and friendship and history and values. We in the UK government
are going to make sure we continue to intensify that
partnership.
Minister Morton, Minister responsible for Falklands and Gibraltar
who chaired much of the Joint Ministerial Council, said:
Our Overseas Territories are part of the UK family. We take our
responsibilities towards them extremely seriously, whether that
means working with them to defend the OTs from threats, helping
preserve the natural environment, or supporting OTs in times of
crisis - as we have with COVID-19. When we face global
challenges we face them together
The UK government remains committed the partnership with the
Overseas Territories, and to working together so communities
flourish as modern, prosperous and strong democracies.
