Following the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), the Islands’ formal relationship with the EU is via the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the TCA). The TCA applies to the Islands to a more limited extent than to the UK, covering the relationship between the Islands and the EU in relation to:

Outside of the formal TCA relationship, the Islands are treated as third countries and are not part of the European Economic Area (EEA). They maintain close relationships with the EU and its Member States in many different fields, and those relationships are deeply valued by Islanders.

Jersey and Guernsey have some of the highest proportions of resident EU nations outside the EU.

As evidence of close neighbourhood and shared values, Guernsey is twinned with the German town of Biberach and Jersey with Bad Wurzach. Guernsey’s St Peter Port is twinned with Masnieres in France, the site of Guernsey’s “finest hour” during World War One, whilst The Vale and St Saviour parishes are twinned with Barneville-Carteret and Montebourg in Normandy. All of Jersey’s parishes are also twinned with towns in Brittany and Normandy. St Helier is twinned with Trenton, in New Jersey and recently twinned with Mykolaiv in Ukraine. 

As Third Countries, and due to their location and close trading relationships with both the UK and EU Member States, the Islands voluntarily implement appropriate EU legislation and apply relevant international standards.