Emmanuel Macron, the French president was humiliated when Belgium refused to support him in his post-Brexit row over fishing with Britain.
This week, Macron summoned ministers from Brussels as part his mission to have the UK prosecuted for refusing permits to French skippers.
However, France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex was rebuffed and Clement Beaune, Europe minister were rejected by Belgian counterparts.
Sources close to the situation said that Alexander De Croo, Belgian prime Minister and Sophie Wilmes were against Paris’s request for sanctions in light of last year’s agreement.
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.
According to the source, “There’s little appetite for trade war over it.”
They claimed that French officials were not aware of the fact that row over the access to the waters close to Britain and Channel Islands is a “bilateral issue” for negotiations. (Pictured) About 70 French trawlers protested at Jersey’s capital St Helier, in May. However, they were defeated by two Navy gunships arriving.
“This isn’t our fight. We want to continue dialogue with the UK on the issues that remain.
Before the April presidential election, Mr Macron is embarrassed by Belgium’s apathy.
A senior EU diplomat stated that France was trying to exploit this conflict for its domestic political ends.
An EU source who is closely involved in Brexit matters said the majority of governments do not want to be dragged into this spat.
French fishing barons are threatening action. Tomorrow’s vote will be held by Union chiefs.