Breton Diaspora and international outreach

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Connecting, serving, transmitting, acting in the world

Levrig 2027

Trajectory 2027-2032

NB: «For the sake of fluidity and concision, In this text, the masculine is used to encompass all genders.».

The essentials

The Breton diaspora is a community of relationships, not a list of origins. It brings together people living outside Brittany who maintain a link to Brittany through their origins, past residence, studies, work, culture or affinity. It includes contemporary expatriates, their descendants, associations, former students, professionals, artists, researchers and friends of Brittany.

Some available landmarks	Data	Precautions
Bretons living around the world	about 400,000	Estimate by the Brittany Region; method to be documented
Descendants of the Bretons	about 3 million	Order of magnitude, not population register
Breton immigrants to the United States since the 19th century	about 100,000	Historical landmark
Participants in events supported in 2025	12 000	Activity measure, not network size
Support B-World	up to 70 %, ceiling of 12,000 € per project	Useful device, but mainly based on projects

The challenge for Yes breizh is not to proclaim an immense diaspora. On the contrary, it is possible to identify real communities, meet their needs and measure active relationships. In the long run, all data will have to include the Loire-Atlantique region and distinguish between registration, participation and effective engagement.

1. Why a policy for the Breton diaspora?

A civic extension of Brittany

Distance does not end belonging. The Irish, Scottish and Cornish diasporas show that ties with a country can transmit a language, a memory and a reputation, but also open up networks of business, research, education and solidarity.

For Yes breizh, this policy does not grant any higher status based on origin. Membership is voluntary, inclusive, and compatible with all affiliations. It does not require people to represent a political line: it offers them a common space in service of Brittany and their host communities.

Four current shortcomings

• Associations and initiatives are poorly mapped out and often depend on a few volunteers.
• The support from my administrative region exists, but remains mainly sporadic, cultural and scattered.
• Economic, academic, scientific and professional networks are poorly interconnected.
• There is no single entry point, no structured return program, and no consolidated public dashboard.

2. What Ireland, Scotland and the Cornualles teach us

Model	The main force	Lesson for Brittany
Ireland	Sustainable state policy, social support for immigrants, global consultations and long-term funding	Start by serving and listening; fund organizations; facilitate return
Scotland	Cross-cutting framework: culture, studies, work, tourism, business and public contact point. Scotland Houses network for living, studying, visiting, trading and investing	Link existing policies and offer an identifiable entry point. Share external representation without creating a pseudo-diplomatic network.
Cornwall	Operational strategy in four pillars: convention, fund, investment portal and evaluation	A nation without a state can build an ambitious and progressive architecture

Ireland is the model to follow for its continuity. Since 2004, its Emigrant Support Programme has helped more than 900 organizations in 53 countries with over €265 million. Its 2026-2030 strategy was prepared through consultation in 27 cities in 17 countries and includes well-being, cultural ties, return, and the sharing of experiences.

3. A Breton definition, open and operational

Six circles of relationships

1. People born or who lived in Brittany and who reside elsewhere in France or abroad.
2. Descendants of Breton migrants who wish to maintain a connection.
3. Speakers, learners, artists and cultural actors related to Breton or Gallo.
4. The former students, researchers, employees, entrepreneurs and visitors who have built a lasting relationship.
5. Friends of Brittany and members of affinity diasporas, notably Celtic ones.
6. The organizations: associations, universities, companies, media, communities and professional networks.

Membership is neither certified nor hierarchized. On the other hand, the programs must target specific audiences: a reception service for a new expat is not the same as a network of investors or a distance course in Breton.

4. The architecture proposed by Yes Breizh

A Mission Bretagne Monde¹

Yes Breizh proposes the creation of a small permanent team that coordinates the strategy, runs the portal, coordinates funding and connects the actors. It relies on the Region of Brittany (if it so wishes) and the five Départements (if they so wish), but works with the associations without placing them under its tutelage.

A World Council of Breton Ties

It brings together elected representatives or those appointed by colleges: associations, youth, culture and languages, solidarity, higher education, research, the economy, host territories and Brittany. It provides public advice and guarantees geographical, generational and social diversity.

«Maisons de Bretagne» in a network

It is not about opening buildings everywhere. A Maison de Bretagne (as the administrative region has already opened one) can be a mutualization agreement with an association, an economic bureau, a university, a French Institute, a Celtic partner, a pancake shop! or a temporary space. Each location serves a specific mission and specific results objectives.

A trusted digital platform

A portal Bretaigne Monde would propose a voluntary directory, a map of organizations, events, mentoring offers, linguistic resources, a feedback channel, and calls for projects. Personal data would obviously never be sold; registration would require explicit and revocable consent.

5. Five action programs proposed by Yes Breizh

1. To serve and protect

Brittany does not have consular competences. However, it can direct people towards French and local services, support associations that support vulnerable people, disseminate verified information, and organize emergency solidarity. The Irish model reminds us that the well-being of immigrants must precede their economic mobilization.

2. To transmit languages and culture

• Breton and Gallo courses (or French courses) available at a distance, adapted to different time zones.
• Resources for teachers, families, associations and events.
• Artistic tours, cross-disciplinary residencies, the media and digital creation.
• Genealogy and Migration History Program, with archives and universities.
• World Brittany Day, without limiting the activities to three annual events.

3. Link studies, research and expertise

Yes Breizh also believes that a network of alumni from the universities and major schools of Brittany would allow the identification of researchers, students and professionals. Mentoring programs would connect young people in Brittany with experienced people around the world. Chairs and calls for projects would study migration, languages and the effects of diasporic policies.

4. Facilitating return and circulation

A «Return or Work in Brittany» portal could provide information on employment, entrepreneurship, qualifications, social protection, schooling and housing. It would certainly not promise employment or housing, but it would reduce the fragmentation of information and point out to public policy makers the recurring obstacles.

5. Mobilizing the capital of the Breton diaspora

For Yes Breizh, the capital of the Breton diaspora is not limited to money: it includes knowledge, reputation, contacts, time, mentoring, opportunities, and influence. Three tools are offered:

• a network of mentors and ambassadors qualified by field; ;
• a portal of opportunities connecting companies, research, culture and territorial projects; ;
• a Bretagne Monde Fund, independent and audited², financing projects of general interest.

All financial investments are subject to French and European regulations. No savings product or bond issue should be launched without a legal framework, information on risks, and independent governance.

6. Geographic priorities

The strategy begins where there are links and channels, not according to a symbolic ranking of countries.

Cercle	Priority geographical zones	Logical
Proximity	Paris and other French regions. Belgium. England.	Contemporary mobility, European institutions and Celtic cooperation
Europe	Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Nordic countries	Studies, work, culture, industry and research
North America	Quebec, Canada (Acadie), United States, Louisiana	Historical migrations, culture, universities, innovation and business
Historical networks	Argentina, Antilles, Africa, Southeast Asia	Associations, migratory memories and new economic poles
Celtic world	Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia	Languages, culture, public policies and cross-sectoral partnerships

Each area is mapped out before funding is granted. Paris and the Bretons living in the rest of France must be included.

7. Fifteen commitments

1. To adopt an inclusive and voluntary definition of Breton women, Bretons and friends of Brittany in the world.
2. Mapping organizations and competencies across the five Departments and the world.
3. Create a Bretagne Monde Mission and a single contact point.
4. Instill a pluralistic and independent World Council in its opinions.
5. Transforming Brittany Monde into a multi-year program, simple and accessible for small structures.
6. Create a microproject fund with simplified procedures and reporting requirements.
7. Launching a digital portal that respects personal data.
8. Networking the existing ambassadors according to missions and an ethical charter.
9. Organizing a Bretagne Monde Convention every two years.
10. Deploy a digital offering in Breton, Gallo, history and culture.
11. Create an international network of alumni, researchers and mentors.
12. Opening an information desk for return and professional mobility.
13. Develop partnerships with the Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Cornish diasporas.
14. Create an audited Bretagne Monde Fund, without confusion between donations, investments and subsidies.
15. Publish annually activities, funding, results, failures and corrections.

8. Calendar 2027-2032

Year	Main actions	Available for inspection
2027 — Listening and mapping	Global consultation; voluntary directory; B-World audit; inventory of associations, alumni and initiatives	White Paper Brittany Monde and reference data
2028 — Structuring	Mission and World Council; beta portal; charter of ambassadors; microproject fund	Established governance and first public report
2029 — Link	Alumni networks, mentors, languages and research; return point; Celtic partnerships	First Convention Bretagne Monde
2030 — Mobilizing	Fund Bretagne Monde; portal of opportunities; Mutualized houses in Brittany in pilot areas	Independent interim evaluation
2031 — Extend	New countries and publics; youth program; cooperation between diasporas; strengthened social support	Measurement of local and diaspora effects
2032 — Consolidation	Revision of programs, funding and priorities; strategy 2033-2038	Convention, five-year report and review clause

The transition from one phase to another depends on real participation, the capacity of associations, and results. A platform filled with inactive registrants or ambassador titles without a mission does not constitute a success.

Conditions of implementation

No transformation is generalized without a budget, a market opportunity, revenue and evaluation. No objective is imposed without a budget, a timeline, support, and accessible technical solution. No transfer takes place without resources. In the event of failure, the system is corrected rather than maintained for appearances’ sake. A code green, orange, red It will indicate the trajectory, but will never replace the figures and their explanation. A temporary increase in an indicator may correspond to a transition or to a better census: each evolution will be interpreted before a decision is made.

9. Monitoring dashboard

Indicator	Target or rule 2032	Frequency	Pilot
Organizations verified in the directory	Covering priority areas and annual renewal	Semiannual	Mission Bretagne Monde
Active members of the network	Annual activity, not easy to register	Quarterly	Platform
Countries and regions covered	Reasonable progression according to local relays	Annually	World Council
Participation of those under 35 years of age	Share increases and representation in governance	Annually	World Council
Projects supported by Bretagne-Monde	Geographical and thematic distribution published	Annually	Bretaigne Monde
Timeliness and simplicity of small subsidies	Proportional procedure; target deadline published	Annually	Bretaigne Monde
Co-financing and volunteer work mobilized	Measured without artificial enhancement	Annually	Project promoters
Beneficiaries of solidarity actions	Needs, orientation and follow-up documented	Annually	Social network
Breton/Gallois learners remotely	Attendance and progress, not just enrollments	Semiannual	Linguistic operators
Active alumni and mentors	Pairings and documented results	Semiannual	Higher education
Accompanied returns	Requests, obstacles overcome and installation in twelve months	Annually	Guichet return
Economic opportunities linked	Contracts, jobs, exports or successful investments	Semiannual	Economic Agency
Donations to the Bretagne Monde Fund	Origin, assignment and audited impact	Annually	Managing Foundation
Events and participants	Diversity, new audiences and loyalty	Annually	Associations
Satisfaction of external communities	Independent investigation and published testimonies	Biennale	External Evaluator
Data protection	Incidents, withdrawals and compliance	Annually	Delegate for protection
Effects in Brittany	Projects, jobs, exchanges, research and culture	Biennale	Observatory

10. Risks and precautions

Risk	Safeguard
Popularization of Folklore	Balancing culture, solidarity, youth, research and the economy
Political capture	Charter of neutrality, pluralistic governance and freedom of opinion
Definition of ethnicity	Voluntary membership, affinity diaspora and universal rights
Intrusive directory	Consent, data minimization and simple withdrawal
Network of notables	Limited mandates, open calls, parity and the place of young people
Competition with associations	Subsidiarity, co-construction and multi-annual funding
Measure by the only registered members	Indicators of activity, reciprocity and results
Financial instrumentalization	Legal distinction between donations, investments and subsidies
Unrealistic promise of return	Honest information and articulation with housing, employment and services
Paris forgotten	Explicit inclusion of the French internal diaspora

Conclusion — A Brittany larger than its territory

For Yes Breizh, the diaspora is neither a nostalgia nor a source of funding. It is a human relationship that can become a public policy if Brittany knows how to listen, serve, and propose useful projects. The success of Ireland comes from a continuity over several decades; Brittany must accept the same patience.

The strategy proposed by Yes Breizh starts modestly: getting to know the people and organizations, consolidating what already exists, funding small initiatives, and creating a reliable entry point. It then becomes more ambitious: transmitting languages, linking skills, facilitating returns, mobilizing networks, and building a coherent international presence.

Mobilized resources and precautions

• Cornwall Trade & Investment and The Diaspora Institute, Cornwall Diaspora Strategy 2025-2028.
• Irish government, Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030 ; Global Irish Hub ; Emigrant Support Programme.
• Scottish Government, Scottish Connections Framework, 2023, and associated research work.
• Scottish National Party, Holyrood Election Manifesto 2026, Among others, the planned network of Scotland Houses.
• Brittany Region, pages « Bretonnes et Bretons du Monde », B-Monde initiative and publications 2025-2026.
• CESER Bretagne, opinion on international action and policies in favor of the Bretons around the world.

Notes and clarifications

1. Any creation of an observatory or agency etc. will have to be linked to the disappearance of at least one other equivalent public entity with the full reinstatement of the staff. Adjustments may be made subsequently.
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2. In terms of auditing and control, Yes Breizh relies, for this and other topics, on the (regional) chamber of accounts for Brittany B5. ↩

The thematic dossiers of Levrig 2027 by Yes Breizh

• 1. Statute, institutions, devolution and Constitution
• 2. Public finances, budget and fiscal autonomy
• 2 bis. Budgetary analysis France – Brittany 5
• 3. The public service in Brittany
• 4. Health in Brittany
• 5. Disability in Brittany
• 6. Education, training and higher education
• 7. Culture, languages and media
• 8. Breton identity, transmission and cohesion
• 9. Housing in Brittany
• 10. Employment, businesses and economic development
• 11. Economy, trade and mobility
• 12. Agriculture and food
• 13. Sea, coast and fishing
• 14. Energy, climate and the ecological transition
• 15. Digitalization and sovereignty
• 16. Security, justice and defense
• 17. Europe and internationally
• 18. Breton Diaspora and international outreach