Loïg Chesnais-Girard, Président du Conseil régional de Bretagne, et Mark Drakeford, Premier ministre gallois. Crédit photo Conseil Régional de Bretagne The first Celtic summit will take place in Lorient, on March 9 and 10, 2023. This was announced by Loïg Chesnais-Girard, president of the Brittany Region, Thursday January 5. This is an initiative of the Brittany region. Invitations have notably been sent to the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and the President of the Republic of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. This Celtic summit was initially scheduled to take place during the Interceltic Festival in Lorient in August 2020. The cancellation of the festival, due to Covid, had led to the postponement of this first and historical meeting of representatives of the Celtic nations. In March 2020, Loïg Chesnais-Girard went to Cardiff and Dublin to explore more cooperations between "Celtic regions". He declared in Cardiff "Brexit does not prevent us from working together, any more than borders prevent us from sharing an identity". Cooperation between Brittany and Wales includes university exchanges, research, especially in marine biology, algaculture and energy. Brittany participates every year at the Marine Energy Wales Conference
Brexit does not prevent us from working together, any more than borders prevent us from sharing an identity” Loïg Chesnais-Girard
Last month, the Celtic Interconnector reached a new milestone: Ireland and France signed the contract for the underwater electricity connection linking the two countries. Cables will cross the Celtic sea from Cleder in north Finistère to Youghal near Cork. A fiber optic link will also be laid. The agreement will enable the project to kick off the construction phase, which is due to start this year.
Brittany could learn a lot from Scotland’s amazing growth in renewable marine energies. Breton fishing rights have been jeopardized by Brexit and a lot needs to be discussed including agricultural exports from Brittany to Scotland. A Brittany Ferry link to Scotland one day maybe?