EU Commissioner sees agreement in the fisheries dispute between France and Great Britain

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French fishermen protested over post-Brexit fishing rights dispute

Photo: Gary Grimshaw/Bailiwick Express/PA Media/picture alliance/dpa

Is an agreement in the fishing dispute between France and Great Britain in sight?

According to EU Fisheries Commissioner Virginjus Sinkevicius, the conflict is coming to an end.

After months of negotiations, Sinkevicius told the Financial Times that most of the licenses required by French fishermen to fish in British waters have been obtained.

The Commission is fully committed to building a successful and constructive relationship with the UK, Sinkevicius said.

Paris and London have been at odds over fishing rights in the English Channel for months.

In December 2020, in the UK exit agreement, London pledged that French and other EU fishermen would be allowed to continue fishing in British waters if they had been fishing there before Brexit.

However, there are problems in proving this.

According to the Financial Times, Sinkevicius brokered talks between the two sides in November.

Since then, the number of outstanding permits has fallen to around 70.

All permits granted in 2021 have been renewed for 2022, Sinkevicius said.

In total, around 1,500 EU boats would have access to the UK's so-called exclusive economic zone, which ranges from 12 to 200 nautical miles offshore.

A further 150 boats are expected to navigate UK territorial waters 6-12 nautical miles offshore.

In addition, 131 French ships are licensed for the Channel Island of Jersey and 44 for the nearby island of Guernsey.

tfb/AFP