Brexit: Fishing row could be ‘getting ugly’ says Andy Mayer

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Leading the revolt against London is Emmanuel Macron’s Europe Minister, Clement Beaune who warned earlier: “In about eight days, we will announce measures of response, retaliation if necessary, national or European, if we do not have concrete British signals on the issue of licences.” Confirming that the measures to be taken are along the lines of sanctions, a French diplomatic source said on Monday: “There is no longer any doubt that there will be sanctions measures.”

France has not disclosed the nature of the sanctions it intends to place on the UK but has previously hinted it could reduce electricity supplies to Jersey and the mainland UK, as well as take action against British financial and research sectors.

Another option could be the reduction in the number of landing points for British boats in France, an important move that could see UK fishermen lose out on an extensive market for their catch.

French fishermen have already lashed out that the progress being made over the right to fish in British waters with some claiming the current approach is too timid and too long for the directors of small fishing companies who demand more transparency in the talks.

The dispute stems from French fishing rights in the post-Brexit era.

An initial agreement stated that European fishermen can continue to work in British waters provided that they can prove they were fishing there before Brexit came into fruition.

In the disputed zones, London and Jersey have granted a total of just over 200 licences, whilst the French claim there should be 244.

Trying to bolster support from European allies, the Europe Minister, Clement Beaune stated: “This is not a French problem… It is a European problem.”

He added: “We are mobilizing our European partners,” hoping to gain some momentum in how Paris pushes their way against London.

So far, 11 countries have signed a petition against London over the licences issues.

Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden have all so far put pen to paper opposing London.

In reality, the potential of cutting off the electricity supply is more of a bark than a bite by the French.

With the UK still enjoying the right to continental sources of power, the threat is a veiled one at best.

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Responding to when the French made the claim, Brexit Minster Lord Frost said: “For all the frustrations of the last 18 months, I can’t think that we as a country have resorted to those sorts of threat.”

The minister added: “We’ve not made those of direct threats to our neighbours, and the vaccine export ban earlier this year is another example of where the EU resorts to these sorts of threats quite quickly – and that’s not how we should behave. We don’t, and I don’t see why our neighbours feel they have to.”

Dubbed ‘the fishing wars’ by many, the challenge that lies ahead for French President Emmanuel Macron is immense.

Having already suffered several humiliating defeats in his term in office, the fight against the British for the French fishermen may well be his last stand in bolstering support in the upcoming French elections.

With Britain having left the EU in order to control its own sovereign rights and laws, it seems this time, for the French at least, relying on the EU Commission and its proxies to fight this battle will be an uphill struggle as Britain no longer abides by Brussels bureaucracy.

The EU Commission played down the threats by the French, undermining Paris rhetoric by saying the priority was to resolve the crisis in a diplomatic fashion.

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