Post-Brexit crisis: France's ultimatum to the UK on fishing licenses

France will "see the non-respect of its signature by the United Kingdom", warns the Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin on Thursday.

And to explain that all the post-Brexit fishing licenses still claimed were not granted by Friday evening, Paris would ask for a meeting at European level and go “to litigation”.

“We have obtained 1,004 licenses and we are still awaiting 94. This is not anecdotal, it is capital: they are fishermen, families.

One job at sea means four jobs on land, ”she told the Senate's economic and European affairs committees.

Under the Brexit agreement signed at the end of 2020 between London and Brussels, European fishermen can continue to work in British waters provided they can prove that they were fishing there before.

But the French and the British argue over the nature and extent of the supporting documents to be provided.

Possible sanctions?

While once again welcoming the constructive work carried out with the Anglo-Norman island of Guernsey, the Minister deplored the “delaying tactics” of the United Kingdom during the eleven months since the signing of the agreement.

It is in the 6-12 British mile zone that the greatest number of French licenses is now lacking: "There are still 53 licenses missing, 40 of which are requested for replacement vessels", new boats purchased by fishermen in renewal of their fleet, files which London refuses for the moment to consider the precedence.

Read also "It was a warning": the pressure of French fishermen in the ports

"If all the licenses were not granted tomorrow evening (deadline set by Brussels in London for the settlement of fishing disputes, editor's note), France will request the meeting of the partnership council", supposed to guarantee the application of the agreement post-Brexit, "to note the non-respect of its signature by the United Kingdom", declared Mrs Girardin.

"It is also there that sanctions can be decided (...) It is the Commission which will bring the litigation and the retaliatory measures if they were to be implemented".