A climate to say the least… electric.
The post-Brexit battle continues between Paris and London, in particular within the framework of the agreements on French fishing in British waters.
France threatens this Friday to "reduce" its deliveries of electricity to Jersey because of the post-Brexit crisis linked to fishing, according to the term used by the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune.
However, there is no question of stopping the electricity meters in Jersey.
"Reducing deliveries is possible, cutting the power to every inhabitant of Jersey this winter, it will not happen", promises Clément Beaune on the BFMTV channel.
The agreement obtained by the EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Brexit provides for an "energy export agreement", notes the Secretary of State.
“So we can regulate the flow.
I don't want it to come to that.
This is one of the political possibilities ”.
To read also In Jersey, the post-Brexit battle between London and Paris holds the fishermen in pincers
The post-Brexit agreement, reached
in extremis
at the end of last year between London and Brussels, provides that European fishermen can continue to work in certain British waters on condition that they obtain a license, granted if they can prove that they fished there before.
"The British need us"
But here it is, Jersey announced on September 29 the granting of 64 definitive licenses to French boats: it is less, much less, than the 169 requests transmitted by Paris, of which 75 were absolutely rejected.
The day before, London had granted 12 additional authorizations in its waters, within the limit of 6 to 12 nautical miles from its coasts (against 87 requested).
“We have applied for a little over 450 licenses in total (…).
We will hold out on the 450, ”insists Clément Beaune this Friday.
More broadly, "we will take targeted retaliatory measures" against the United Kingdom if London "continues not to apply the agreement" on Brexit, he adds, without specifying whether he is talking about France alone or Europeans.
"Brexit is their failure, not ours"
“The British need us (Europeans) to sell their products, including fish.
They need us for their energy, for their financial services, for their research centers, ”notes the Secretary of State.
“On all this, we have retaliatory measures, cooperation measures that we can modulate, reduce if the British continue not to implement the agreement.
If the British do not respect their share, we will not do 100% of our share ”.
Read alsoFrom a fishing agreement to a military deployment: how the situation derailed in Jersey
Paris has once again criticized the United Kingdom for wanting to hide the post-Brexit difficulties it is facing by seeking "conflict" with the Europeans.
"They missed Brexit, it is their choice and it is their failure, it is not ours," said Clément Beaune.
"It is not by beating our fishermen, by threatening us every day, by being bad players and by creating annoyances or problems for the Europeans, the French, and our fishermen in particular, that you will solve turkey shortages. at Christmas, ”he said.
