The “
fishing and seafood
” section of the Senate announced on Wednesday 10 November the launch of a program of hearings in the face of the “
deadlock
” in which negotiations are found on the access of French fishermen to British waters, "In
order to find lasting solutions
".
It will present its recommendations in mid-December.
Read also Post-Brexit fishing: the great Franco-British quarrel
The “
fishing and seafood
” section, attached to the Committee on Economic Affairs, as well as the European Affairs committee denounce in a
press
release “
the government's retreat
” in this dossier.
"
Without ignoring the firm speech and the actions undertaken by the Minister for the Sea, Annick Girardin, and the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune (...)
", the senators regret that the so-called "cross-sanctions" ”- which may concern sectors other than fishing - have not been applied as envisaged.
"Total absence of the European Union"
The president of the section Alain Cadec (LR), former president of the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries from 2014 to 2019, also deplores “
the total absence of the European Union in this affair, while Brexit is not not a Franco-British agreement
”.
“
The agreement on fisheries is Euro-British, not Franco-British.
Logically, it is up to the European Union to ensure that its signature is respected on the international scene
”, supports Jean-François Rapin (LR), chairman of the European Affairs Committee.
In addition to ministers Girardin and Beaune, the senators plan to hear in particular representatives of the Department of Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture (DPMA) and the European Union, Alain Cadec told AFP.
Paris and London are in conflict over the fishing licenses granted to Europeans.
Under the Brexit deal, European fishermen can continue to work in certain UK waters provided they can prove that they previously fished there.
But the French and the British argue over the nature and extent of the supporting documents to be provided.
Paris accuses London of not respecting the terms of the agreement and brandishes the threat of sanctions.
Despite several bilateral meetings at several levels as well as the involvement of the EU, the situation is paralyzed.