France warns Britain’s “all options on the table” in a fishing dispute

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France warned that Britain still had “all options on the table” in a fierce controversy caused by the refusal of dozens of applications for fishing in British waters by French fishermen.

France claims that Britain’s actions violated the UK-EU agreement on Brexit relations and threatened to limit cross-channel trade in retaliation last month.

France UK jersey fishing
French fishing vessels protest in front of the port of St. Helier off Jersey, UK, and note that they are seen as an unreasonable restriction on fishing capacity in the UK waters after Brexit on May 6, 2021. I’m aiming. (AFP via SameerAl-Doumy / Getty Images)

France’s European Minister ClĂ©ment Beaune said on Monday night that France wanted a “constructive solution”, but Paris would check closely and British trawlers to French ports if the dispute was not resolved. Will consider taking action with threats such as landing bans.

“We still have all the options, including these measures. We would like to take action at the EU level, but if nothing happens at the EU level, we will take the French action. But I want to get into it. No, “he told an event hosted by the Politico website.

“It’s a mistake to think that you can win quickly or in the short term with your neighbors,” he said. “If we want to cooperate on defense, security, foreign policy, and the crisis seen in Belarus, or perhaps Ukraine, the Balkans, it’s also a big concern for the UK. Trust and in your words Be loyal. If in doubt, it never works. “

Jersey fishing boat
Fishing boats can be seen off the coast of Jersey on May 6, 2021. (Oliver Pinel via AP)

Beaune said the current situation was “not quite satisfactory” and warned that it was in Britain’s best interests to resolve the fishery rights dispute.

The Brexit contract covers European Union boats that can be shown to have been caught in British waters for at least four years from 2012 to 2016.

Approximately 1,831 license applications have been submitted and 1,793 have been issued.

The main cause of the conflict was small vessels, fishing in categories less than 12 meters between 6 and 12 nautical miles from the coast, with 50 applications from French vessels, but only a few were issued. There were 19 cases.

PA contributed to this report.

Alexander Chan

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