Joint Ministerial Council 2020

25 November 2020

Council, Government

On Monday 23 November the annual Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) commenced. The JMC provides an opportunity for elected representatives of the Overseas Territories (OTs) to meet with UK government ministers, discuss issues of common concern and celebrate the unique relationship OTs enjoy with the UK.

Due to COVID-19 the JMC will be hosted remotely for the first time, with representatives joining digitally from across the globe across the four days. Elected members of the Ascension Island Council are scheduled to join each of the scheduled sessions, assisted by AIG officials where necessary. This will be the first JMC held since 2018, following the postponement of the 2019 JMC as a result of Brexit and then a further postponement of the rescheduled Council due to COVID-19.

In addition to covering the impacts of COVID-19 and measures to tackle the threats posed by the pandemic, the UK’s exit from the EU and the ongoing partnerships between the UK and OTs on environmental issues will be discussed over the course of the Council.