Post-Brexit fishing licenses: London threatens to tighten controls on European boats – archyde

In the Franco-British conflict over fishing licenses post-Brexit, London in turn brandishes threats of retaliation. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday vowed to “Defend the interests” from the United Kingdom before meeting French President Emmanuel Macron this weekend.

MM. Macron and Johnson are due to meet on the sidelines of the G20 this weekend in Rome, Downing Street reported on Friday. This meeting comes as the subjects of contention accumulate between the two neighbors, on the hot topic of fishing but also on illegal immigration through the Channel or the consequences of Brexit in Northern Ireland.

France criticizes the United Kingdom for granting too few post-Brexit fishing licenses to its fishermen. She promised to ban British fishing vessels from unloading their cargo in French ports on Tuesday and to strengthen customs controls on trucks, if the situation does not improve by then.

The tension rose again on Friday

Far from subsiding before the meeting in Rome, the tension still mounted on Friday with the threat of London to implement “Rigorous controls” on European ships spawning in its waters if Paris actually follows through on its threats, a British government spokesperson said on Friday.

The latter also considers “To launch a dispute settlement procedure” provided for in the post-Brexit trade agreement, which entered into force at the start of the year. “We will do what is necessary to defend British interests”Mr Johnson told reporters on the plane to Rome. “France is one of our best, our oldest, our closest allies, friends, partners” and “The bonds which unite us, which bind us, are much stronger than the current turbulences in our relation”.

British Foreign Minister Liz Truss has decided to summon the Ambassador of France in the UK, Catherine Colonna, Friday. An extremely rare step between allied countries.

In an interview with Financial Times, published Friday evening, Mr. Macron believes that the “Credibility” of the UK is at stake in post-Brexit disputes: “Make no mistake, this does not only concern the Europeans, but all their partners. Because when you spend years negotiating a treaty and a few months later you do the opposite of what was decided on the aspects that suit you the least, that is not much proof of your credibility. “

The post-Brexit agreement, concluded in extremis at the end of 2020 between London and Brussels, provides that European fishermen can continue to work in certain British waters under certain conditions. London claims to have granted 98% of EU vessel license applications to fish in its waters, a figure disputed by France, which speaks of 90%. In areas still disputed in particular, London and Jersey have granted just over two hundred and ten final licenses, but Paris is still claiming over two hundred.

“Come to your senses”

On the BBC, British Environment Minister George Eustice criticized France for adopting a “Your arsonist” and considered that the approach of the presidential election in France could constitute “A factor” explaining the French reaction.

Some EU members appear to be taking a cautious stance in the face of the conflict, with the German government calling on both sides to negotiate. In this conflict over fishing, “The wrongs are not really shared”, “Good faith is not on the British side”, however estimated Friday on Franceinfo Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for the internal market. “Perhaps it is time for the British authorities to come to their senses. “

Fishing, diplomatic crisis between Paris and London: “the wrongs are not really shared for the moment” estimates … https://t.co/kSiCI90yFP

– franceinfo (@franceinfo)

In the English port of Newhaven, in the south of England, British fishermen deplore paying the price for the situation. For Neil Whitney, boss of About Time, this conflict over fishing licenses in British and Channel waters is ” Politics “.