Fishermen's wars in the English Channel: France has suspended sanctions against the United Kingdom

Disputes between French and British fishermen have been going on since the application of the brexite and have not yet been resolved.

Ilze Kalve, “Latvijas Avīze”, JSC “Latvijas Mediji”

The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow has been largely overshadowed by a quarrel between France and the United Kingdom (UK) over catch licenses in British waters. France is threatening to arrest British ships, block ports and even cut off electricity supplies.

Believe in GPS data or a record on paper?

Since 1970, EU bloc countries have been allowed to fish 12 nautical miles (22.22 km) from their national coast. The Brexit withdrawal agreement stipulates that British fishermen have an advantage, but EU vessels may continue to fish in British waters as long as it can be proved that they did so before briquette.

However, it is not clear how to prove it. The British interpret it as the presentation of GPS data and catch records, while being aware that small fishing boats are unlikely to have and will not have a GPS system. Only vessels that can prove that they fished in British waters for at least one day each year between 2012 and 2016 can qualify for a license.

However, French fishermen translate the Brexit Agreement on their own, believing that it allows them to continue fishing as long as the paper records are kept.

Licenses are issued… Are they not?

Earlier this week, the British government reported that a total of 1,800 licenses had been issued to EU fishing vessels, almost 700 of them to France.

The UK government claims that 98% of all license applications are met, but France thinks otherwise, threatening that if British do not review fishing licensing arrangements, UK vessels will be detained in French ports, inspections between France and the UK will be stepped up and electricity supplies will be reduced. .

UK ministers say the country is ready to grant more fishing permits unless it is proven that the bracket was caught in British waters, indicating that France’s planned retaliation means breaching the withdrawal agreement, so the UK is ready to take legal action against France.

The French presidential election is approaching

British media say the main reason is not the denial of licenses, but the forthcoming French presidential election next April.

“Macron’s hopes of being re-elected could be at the root of the Brexite fishing dispute,” writes The Guardian, quoting UK Environment Minister George Justis as accusing France of using confusing rhetoric.

Experts admit that the dispute with France is also good for the British, because in this way it would be possible to solve the painful situation in Northern Ireland on the principle of “given against” – if France violates the withdrawal treaty, then why not the British!

Former UKIP leader and former MEP Niger Faraz has his explanation: “We have licensed French boats to fish on our six-mile line, as long as they can prove that they have historically fished in our waters and in Jersey waters. And here we have a couple dozen French boats, the owners of which say they can’t prove it. They cannot prove that they have fished in our waters with boats that must carry logbooks, and now they are almost openly admitting that they have fished illegally in our waters from the outset. (..) The French have got a fantastic deal, and now they want absolutely everything and think they can force us to give up, and the European Union pretends not to see it, because they are the French who want to break the treaty. If it were Poland or any other country, they would punish it without thinking. “

Last Thursday, French Prime Minister Gin Castek sent a letter to European Commission President Urzula von der Leien calling for more EU support, as Brussels has a duty to demonstrate that “leaving the EU is harder than staying in the EU”.

As recently as last week, a representative of the European Commission stated that France had taken a decision unilaterally, the EC had not been warned about the blocking of ports and the situation should be carefully analyzed in the light of compliance with the EU-UK trade agreement.

British ship detained

British emotions hit a high tide when France detained one a week ago but fined another British fishing vessel. The fined trawler was authorized to fish in French waters, but did not immediately comply with the French requirements, while the other did not.

However, it turns out that the other fishing vessel also had a license, at least according to the captain of the vessel, Johnny Ward, who presented the documents immediately. The ship was not on the lists for unknown reasons, so it was detained, but released after a trial on Wednesday, when a French court concluded that the British ship had been used as a political pawn in a diplomatic dispute and should be released immediately.

The security deposit of EUR 150 000 for the master, which would guarantee his attendance at the hearing next August, was also lifted.

Meanwhile, one of the latest British jokes is that France is able to catch one British fishing vessel but cannot catch 500 illegal migrant boats.

However, negotiations have begun

“We are working very closely with our French colleagues and partners on issues that affect most people in the world, such as tackling climate change and reducing CO2. If you compare with this huge problem, then the ones you mentioned [nozveja], are short-lived and unimportant, ”said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, answering questions from journalists in Glasgow.

French President Emmanuel Macron also looks to the future with hope: “Discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister Johnson. Negotiations must continue. As far as I understand, the British will come to us tomorrow with other proposals. We will work on that as well. (..) My wish is to resolve these issues. ”

France had applied for sanctions on November 2, but plans changed on Monday. A bilateral meeting between Lord Frost, the British Minister of Brixit, and Clement Bain, the French Minister for European Affairs, began yesterday in Paris, followed by talks with the EU.

Opinion

Lisa Truss, UK Foreign Secretary: “We have granted fishing licenses in exactly the way provided for in the agreement, and the French must withdraw the threat. Otherwise, we will use the EU Treaty dispute settlement mechanism. We do not intend to give in to such threats. “

Clement Bain, French Minister for EU Affairs: “We will engage in dialogue if the British want it, but we are ready to respond. We have an agreement negotiated by France, Michel Barnier, and it must be fulfilled 100% by all. But it doesn’t happen. “

Thomas Bairn, Irish Minister for EU Affairs: ‘The trade and cooperation agreement is clear: vessels traditionally fishing in these waters must be allowed to continue. We support efforts to resolve this issue as soon as possible, in compliance with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. “

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Fishermen’s wars in the English Channel: France has suspended sanctions against the United Kingdom