This policy priority embraces a wide variety of workstreams. The External and Constitutional Relations team at the Policy & Resources Committee has an initial high level coordination role and can assist with ongoing facilitation between the Bailiwick and the UK, where required.
International instruments cover international conventions/agreements, treaties, and protocols. The international instruments which are actively being researched, or have been extended to Guernsey and therefore form a part of business as usual, can be categorised as:
- Tax and financial services;
- Trade and the economy;
- Environment;
- Human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Health and social care/services matters;
- Transport; and
- Justice.
Some examples of key international instruments that have been extended to Guernsey and/or the wider Bailiwick include, for example, various Tax Information Exchange Agreements; the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer; the UN Convention Against Corruption; the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; various international labour organisation conventions; and the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
The External and Constitutional Relations team continues to be made aware by the UK of the major international instruments and standards that the Bailiwick should research and consider taking part in. Additionally, Committees have a responsibility to identify and make known to the External and Constitutional Relations team any international agreements that they have identified and believe are of importance to their area of work and/or the Bailiwick - this is particularly so where international instruments are to be extended to Guernsey and/or the wider Bailiwick.
There are a variety of international standards workstreams/policy areas that are also actively resourced. Two primary examples are the International Maritime Strategy which has links to the International Maritime Organisation, and the development and implementation of the Data Protection (Guernsey) Law in order to align the Island with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
