France will claim compensation if its fishermen are deprived of access to certain waters because of the UK's exit from the European Union, President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with several regional newspapers published Thursday, February 20.
The fisheries issue is one of the many sensitive issues for France in the upcoming negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom after the latter's exit from the EU. Talks which must define governing their relations beyond the transitional period which extends until the end of the year.
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" I want to tell our fishermen that I will fight for them. If we do not get the same access as today, we will seek compensation, "said Emmanuel Macron in the interview published Thursday. " I will not let our fishermen be affected by the British vote which they can do nothing about. "
Fishing was the subject of the very first “ post-Brexit ” frictions between Paris and London at the beginning of the month, French fishing boats being deprived of access to the waters of the Channel Island of Guernsey. The United Kingdom has granted France fishing authorization in this area valid until the end of the year.