Post-Brexit fishing licenses: London will convene French ambassador

London reacts to the retaliation threats made by Paris, which criticizes the United Kingdom to give too small number of licenses to French fishermen.

Le Monde with AFP

The conflict is bogged down between France and the United Kingdom on the licenses granted to French fishermen under the Brexit Agreement. London will convene the French ambassador after the retaliation threats made by Paris, which criticizes the United Kingdom to give too small number of licenses, announced the British government.

Judging the actions envisaged by “unjustified” France, the head of British diplomacy, Liz Truss, gave instruction to his Secretary of State in charge of Europe, Wendy Morton, to “convene the French Ambassador “, announced a spokesman for the British government in a statement.

“We regret the confrontational language that has been constantly used by the French government on this issue, which does not facilitate the resolution of things,” added the spokesman.

Jersey “Extremely disappointed “

The tone is quickly mounted, Wednesday, after the announcement by France of the entry into force of the first retaliatory measures against the Channel Islands and the United Kingdom. These measures – strengthening controls and prohibition for British vessels to land in French ports – must enter into force on November 2, if French fishermen do not get by more licenses for fishing in their waters.

“We reiterate that the government has granted 98% of license applications from the European Union vessels to fish in the waters of the United Kingdom and, as we have clearly stated, we will examine any element Proof for those who stay, “added the same source, quoting a figure challenged by France, which speaks 90%.

For his part, the Government of Jersey Island said “extremely disappointed” by the announcement of retaliation measures. This dependence of the British crown also announced the issue of twenty new licenses to French boats, mostly provisional.

“We are extremely disappointed by the announcement of the French Government (…), in which he explained to consider reating measures,” said the Ministers of the Environment, John Young, and foreign affairs, Ian Gorst.

Risk of climbing

The reinforcement of the controls of British vessels by the French authorities seems to have already started with the verbalization in the night of Wednesday on Thursday of two fishing boats, although the Ministry specified that it was Usual seasonal controls.

One of the two vessels “did not appear on the license lists granted in the United Kingdom” by the European Commission and France. He was confused to the port of Le Havre, according to the department. The owner of the defiled Scottish trawler estimated at AFP that it was a “misunderstanding” and denounced a “political maneuver”. It risks a fine of 75,000 euros and administrative sanctions, announced the parquet on Thursday.

Few British ships do in French ports while French fishermen are very numerous in British waters, he explained to the BBC, adding that an escalation would be at the expense of the French.

And especially French mareyers, these professionals who who burst the fish landed and prepare it for distribution. They depend a lot on British products and took position Thursday against any “measure as simplistic asmerly” that would deprive them of these products.

/Media reports.