According to the European Union, the UK has until December 10, 2018, in order to settle the post-Brexit spat with France about fishing licences.
Virginijus, the EU’s fish chief, demanded this during yesterday’s meeting with George Eustice.
It came after French President Emmanuel Macron was left humiliated after Belgium snubbed his overtures to back Paris in the dispute with Britain.
This week, Mr Macron summoned ministers from Brussels to support his position. He also wanted to penalize the UK in the row.
Their Belgian counterparts rebutted Jean Castex, France’s Prime Minister and Clement Beaune, Europe minister.
After vowing to “hinder English interests” to try and force Boris Johnson to hand, the UK is ready for possible protests by French fishermen.
According to the European Union, the UK has until December 10, 2018, in order for it to settle the growing dispute between France and the UK over fish licences. Pictured in Granville, Normandy by French trawlers on November 4,
Virginijus, the EU’s fish chief, demanded this during yesterday’s meeting with George Eustice (Environment Secretary).
This ongoing dispute centers around issuing fishing licenses to EU trawlers in order to fish in British waters.
According to the terms of the Brexit agreement, boats have to be able show, via GPS data, that their boat operated in waters prior the UK’s separation from Brussels.
France accused the UK for failing to issue licences to all eligible boats. But Britain says that certain boats weren’t able to provide data to support their claims and has rejected their application.
Talks on the issue remain ongoing between the UK, France and the European Commission but French fishermen are ‘exasperated’ by the ‘endless months of waiting’ and have threatened to take disruptive action.
UK ministers have demanded assurances from Paris that trade will not be affected after French fishing chiefs signalled they could block Calais and other ports to stop exports to the UK.
France is pressuring the European Commission to become more active in helping resolve the impasse and to obtain additional licences from the UK.
French Fisheries Minister Annick Girardin had asked the Commission to set a deadline and Mr Sinkevicius, the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner, yesterday obliged.
French efforts to support its position have been hampered by Belgium’s rejection of their plea for assistance.
Sources close to the situation said that Alexander De Croo, Belgian prime minister and Sophie Wilmes were against any attempt by Paris to impose sanctions on the UK.
The French said that they were not misled by the fact that rowing over waters close to Britain and Channel Islands was a “bilateral issue” for negotiations.
Emmanuel Macron, French President was embarrassed after Belgium rejected his invitations to Paris in the Paris dispute with Britain
According to the source, there is not much appetite for trade wars over this. This is not the fight. We want to continue dialogue with the UK on the issues that remain.
For Mr Macron, the latest embarrassment is Belgium’s snub.
A senior EU diplomat stated that France was trying to exploit this conflict for its domestic political ends.
A source close to the EU said that most countries want to stay out of the Brexit mess.