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Moored British fishing boat in the port of Le Havre
Photo: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared the fisheries dispute between London and Paris a test of British credibility.
London does not adhere to the agreements from the Brexit treaty, Macron told the Financial Times.
That is being watched closely around the world.
"If you negotiate a contract for years and a few months later do the opposite of what was decided in the areas you least like, that's not a great sign of credibility," Macron said.
Paris accuses London of not having issued licenses to many French boats to fish in British waters, contrary to the agreements.
London rejects this.
France is now threatening to closely inspect British boats from November 2nd and not allow them to dock in certain French ports.
Trucks driving from France to the UK or in the opposite direction should also be more strictly controlled.
A British boat has already been arrested, and France's ambassador to Great Britain has been summoned.
The escalation between the two countries in the dispute over fishing rights had been announced for weeks.
The background to this is the implementation of the Brexit agreement.
It stipulates that European fishermen can continue to fish in British waters - but only if they are given permission to do so.
The issue of the permit, in turn, depends on the fishermen being able to prove that they have previously worked in the relevant sea areas.
Johnson wants to speak to Macron
At the center of the dispute is the six to twelve mile zone off the British coast of Great Britain, which also includes the Channel Islands, which belong to the British.
The authorities have so far issued 210 fishing licenses for these waters.
Paris calls for more than 200 more.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to talk to Macron about the dispute on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome.
Johnson had recently admitted "turbulence" in bilateral relations.
The British government said that London was preparing adequate countermeasures.
svs / dpa / AFP
