A dispute between France and the United Kingdom over fishing licenses In the framework of the latter’s departure from the European Union, it worsened in the last hours with the arrest of a British fishing boat, the repeated threats from Paris to adopt sanctions as of next Tuesday and the call from London to the French ambassador.
After ten months of unsuccessful negotiations, the French authorities consider that the United Kingdom it still does not respect the fishing agreements after the consummation of Brexit and warned that their patience has run out.
According to the French Ministry of Maritime Affairs, a Gendarmerie patrol searched several British ships in French waters on Wednesday, one of whom was fined for “obstructing” the control, and refusing to allow the officers to board the ship to check the documentation, which was finally in order.
A second inspection of a British vessel allowed French agents to verify that this “It was not on the lists of licenses agreed with the United Kingdom by the European Commission and France”, for which a diversion order was issued “immediately” to the port of Le Havre. There it remained stranded this Thursday, as confirmed by the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Annick Girardin.
The post-Brexit agreement reached between France, the United Kingdom and Brussels at the end of 2020 foresees that European fishermen they can continue to fish in British waters as long as they can prove that they already fished there before the UK left the EUBut Paris and London disagree on the number of licenses to be issued.
British Environment Minister George Eustice, urged “calm” and “de-escalation”, by stating that his Government kept the doors of dialogue “open”. However, hours later the summons to the French ambassador, Catherine Colonna, was announced, for which it was considered “unjustified” actions.
A spokesman for the British Conservative government assured that “We regret the confrontational language that the French government has constantly used on this issue, which does not facilitate things to be resolved.”
For his part, the French Secretary for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, declared that his government has been “patient and our responsible fishermen”, but added “enough is enough: as of November 2 we will apply reprisals.”
The Gallic official estimated that 10 Downing Street only comprises “the language of force”, while the Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, alluded to “a fight” to force the British to honor their commitments.
Among the measures that France would implement are a ban on importing seafood from the United Kingdom, plus an increase in customs checks of trucks that arrive and leave Great Britain from French ports, for which it is estimated that there could be a risk of shortages.
The Boris Johnson Administration described as “disproportionate” and “disappointing” French threats, and assured that there is no “formal communication” at this time with the administration of Emmanuel Macron.
The French president and the British prime minister will meet this weekend in Rome during the G-20 summit and it is expected that this instance will allow to put cold cloths on the conflict and facilitate negotiations.
The dispute over fishing permits covers waters between six and twelve miles off the coast of Great Britain. Almost 1,700 European Union ships operate in the region. Earlier this week, the European Commission noted that London had approved 15 of 47 requests for French ships to operate off the English coast.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex said shortly after harsh words from his ministers, that Paris is “open for discussions morning, noon and night” as long as the British “respect their commitments”.
France also asked the European Commission to consider all the measures likely to restore the rights derived from the trade and cooperation agreement and, in a second phase, it does not exclude the possibility of cutting its electricity exports to the United Kingdom.
.
