Franco-British conflict over fishing: what is Boris Johnson playing? – LCI

Half an hour of aside discussions that was not enough to get everyone to agree. This Sunday, October 31, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome, after weeks of imbroglio around fishing licenses, to which certain French sailors are entitled in British waters under the Brexit agreement , but half of which has not yet been granted by London.

If the heads of state have agreed to continue these discussions, the position of London may be surprising seen from this side of the Channel. Indeed, Boris Johnson has, once the interview is over, “reiterated its deep concern about the rhetoric emanating from the French government in recent days, including the French Prime Minister’s suggestion that the UK should be punished for leaving the EU”, according to a statement from Downing Street. Then insisted on one point: “that the French government defuse this rhetoric and withdraw its threats”. From “threat” alluding to the retaliatory measures promised by Paris and to be implemented as of Tuesday, November 2.

The day before, Boris Johnson was already complaining to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, about these French threats “completely unjustified”. Before explaining that the use of a conflict resolution tool, provided for in the Brexit agreements, was seriously considered at this stage.

This is not the first time that the British Prime Minister has been uncooperative with Paris. During the submarine crisis between France, the United States and Australia, the tenant of Downing Street then called on France to “recover”, asking that we “let it breathe”. “Give me a break”, he blurted out in front of the press, after a meeting with Joe Biden.

For its part, the Élysée has opted for a very different tone, calling for “de-escalation” as each side competes over the number of British licenses to be granted to European fishermen. The conditions for the attribution of these licenses must be precisely determined. “in the next few days”.