Militant French fishing barons vowed last night to wreck Britain’s economy as skippers plotted a nationwide protest in a post-Brexit row over licences.
Olivier Lepretre was the Chairman of the Powerful Northern France Fisheries Committee and he made this threat following late night talks with President Emmanuel Macron.
Without saying exactly how, Mr Lepretre said trade unions and skippers would take action within days that will ‘hit the British economy’ unless there was a compromise from Downing Street.
Before, he threatened French fishermen who were unhappy with the channel tunnel and port of Calais to close down the Channel Tunnel. This would stop the flow of goods from Europe.
‘It is out of the question to do anything that will harm the French economy,’ Mr Lepretre said in Boulogne-sur-Mer last night. ‘We will disrupt British interests.
‘Let them give us the licences. Otherwise, we will cut them off.’
Olivier Lepretre (pictured), chairman of the influential northern France fisheries commission, threatened to kill Macron after being encouraged by talks late at night with the president.
After calling Mr Macron on Sunday night, Mr Lepretre called Mr Macron again last night. Macron will be reelected in April. He is now under immense pressure to give the fishing permits before the presidential vote.
British fishermen were denied up to 150 licenses, an accusation he made against Britain. This is a claim Britain has disputed.
French Europe minister Clement Beaune last night said the row was ‘not taken seriously enough’ by the European Commission and that Paris wanted it to be resolved by Christmas.
However, Mr Beaune stated that France could consider taking the matter to France alone to sanction Britain if it isn’t resolved. He threatened with tighter controls and banning British trawlers from landing in French ports.
‘We still have all options on the table… we would prefer to have it on the EU level but if nothing happens at the EU level we will take French measures. But I don’t want to go into that.’
French Europe minister Clement Beaune last night said the row was ‘not taken seriously enough’ by the European Commission and that Paris wanted it to be resolved by Christmas. Pictured: French fishing captain Sebastien transports boxes of scallops on board the Le Chant des Sirene.
France is now allowing talks to continue despite similar threats. The November 2 deadline was scrapped in order to avoid repeating them.
Last month a private letter from French prime minister Jean Castex to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen demanded Eurocrats show ‘it is more damaging to leave the Union than to remain in it’. It was mistakenly leaked on social media by France’s gaffe-prone minister of the sea, Annick Girardin.
French fishermen will need to apply for permission from either the British Government of Jersey or Guernsey after Brexit to be allowed in certain areas.
The UK says many of the rejected trawlers have failed to provide evidence that they had fished British waters before the UK’s referendum on leaving the EU.
Tory MP Peter Bone said: ‘France seems to be determined to do anything to thumb its nose at the United Kingdom. It all comes down to the French elections. It is incredible that the French have the right to penalize Great Britain and Northern Ireland because they chose to leave the EU.
‘The French are bullies. How can you handle bullies? When you confront bullies, they flee.
‘The Government must stand up to them.’
A UK Government source said: ‘Our position on licensing remains unchanged.’