The owners of the British trawler seized by France during the escalating row over-fishing licences will have to pay bail of more than £125,000 before she is allowed to return the UK, it emerged today.
Details of the sum, which follows the Scottish skipper of the Cornelis Gert Jan being told that he faces a fine of more than £70,000 if convicted following a criminal trial next year, comes after Emmanuel MacronBeware Boris JohnsonThat FranceUnless Britain backs down in the fishing row, Britain will retaliate.
It also refers to the French promise to take similar measures starting Tuesday in retaliation to Britain’s insufficient licensing for their boats to fish within UK waters after Brexit.
On Monday, a spokesman for the Seine-Maritime prefecture confirmed that the Cornelis would remain in the Normandy port of Le Havre unless her crew paid ‘a 150,000 euros deposit’ – the equivalent of more than £125,000.
A spokesperson added that the boat would not be allowed to leave until the sum has been paid.
It far exceeds any earnings the boat may have made during what began as a five day trip to France to catch scallops.
A spokesman confirmed that the Cornelis would remain in the Normandy port of Le Havre unless her crew paid ‘a 150 ,000 euros deposit’ – the equivalent of more than £125,000
The boat was detained last Wednesday by gendarmes and taken to the Le Havre quayside where they have remained eversince. Pictured: Crew onboard the Cornelis Gert Jan
The owners of the British trawler will have to pay bail of more than £125,000 before she is allowed to return the UK. Pictured: A man who is believed to be a member of the crew inside the Cornelis Gert Jan
After Emmanuel Macron warned Boris Johnson about France’s retaliation if Britain doesn’t back down in the fishing row, details of the sum were revealed
The boat was taken into police custody last Wednesday. They were then escorted to Le Havre’s Quayside where they have remained eversince.
Their skipper, who was not formally identified, has been charged with “acts of unauthorised marine fishing in French maritime sal waters by a third party vessel to the European Union”.
The growing diplomatic row at Rome’s G20 was discussed by Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, and Emmanuel Macron Macron, President of France.
Johnson stated that he was ‘puzzled to’ read a Paris letter to the EU, asking for ‘for Britain being punished for leaving’.
Referring directly at Brexit, the Prime Minister stated: “I don’t believe it is compatible either with spirit or letter of the Withdrawal Agreement for the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and probably that’s all I’ll talk about that.”
Mr Macron replied, “I don’t want to escalate.” We must be serious. I don’t want you to use retaliation because it wouldn’t help our fishermen.
Andrew Brown, director of MacDuff Shellfish (Scotland), who owns the Cornelis said that she was being used as an ‘pawn’ by France and that she hadn’t done anything illegal.
Last week, Mr Brown stated that he was looking for the UK government’s support to protect the rights of the UK’s fishing fleet and to ensure that the EU fully respects the fishing rights under the Brexit fishing agreement.
Monday morning, the Cornelis moored in Le Havre with eight crew members.
The boat was leaving Shoreham, Sussex, on Tuesday morning.
France has taken her into custody in the latest in a series of disputes with the UK over fishing rights in the Channel.
France’s Europe minister Clement Beaune said that Britain must speak the language force because it is “the only thing this government understands”.
British critics immediately accused him of “sabre rattling”, while Annick Girardin, Paris’ Maritime Minister, said: “It’s no war, but it’s a fight.”
Other retaliatory measures taken by the French could include a blockade of major ports like Calais to stop British seafood imports.
Yesterday the French President insisted that if the UK does not change, reprisals will take place within days. He stated that “the ball is in Britain’s court”.
After Johnson had told his briefing for journalists that the UK’s ‘position is unchanged’, the press conference in Rome at the conclusion of the G20 summit saw the UK adopt a combative stance.
Johnson stated that the G20 position on fish was unchanged at a press conference. For the record, I’ll only say this. I must confess that I was puzzled when I read a letter from France’s Prime Minister asking for Britain to be punished for leaving EU.
“I just need to say that I don’t believe that that is compatible with either the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement, or the Trade and Cooperation agreement. And that’s probably all I’ll say about that one.”
But Mr Macron stated that the ball was in Britain’s hands… If the British do not move, the measures of November 2, will have to be implemented.
French sources claimed that Mr Johnson had reached a de-escalation agreement with Mr Macron in 30 minutes of talks during a day of extraordinary briefing.
As the pair attempted to come to an understanding one on one, there were no officials or cameras.
Johnson rejected that version. He stated that he saw Macron as a friend but that they had a wide-ranging and honest discussion. He said, “On fish, I have to tell you that the position is unchanged.”
The PM’s spokesperson stated earlier that France would have to decide whether to back down from the threats.
The spokesperson stated that they were ready to respond if they decided to break the Brexit agreement.
G20 leaders visited Rome’s landmark to wave to the cameras at the end of the G20 gathering.
As the two-day summit ended in Rome, the leaders seemed to be in a happy mood. The action then moves to Glasgow for COP26
French officials warned they will block UK fishing boats out of certain ports and tighten controls on lorries entering Britain with British goods starting Tuesday. This is unless more licenses for small boats that can fish in British waters are granted.
Other threats include a ‘go slow’ at customs, and even higher tariffs on energy bills for Jersey.
After the talks, a French aide stated to Reuters: ‘The goal for both President and Prime Minister was to work towards deescalation.
According to French sources, the two sides reached an agreement on ‘operational steps’ to end the row in the coming days.
They shared their eyes earlier as they visited the Trevi Fountain in Rome with other leaders at the G20 summit.
Mr Macron appeared to chase Mr Johnson out of the way in order to get to Mario Draghi, the Italian host for photos.
Clement Beaune, Europe minister, was Mr Macron’s scapegoat, adding that Britain was not being a friend, ally, and responsible partner’.
As they prepared for difficult talks about fishing, Mr Macron and Mr Johnson kept one another close.
Downing Street stated that Johnson had used the ‘unhelpful’ rhetoric from France during their showdown.
When asked if there was a specific measure that could be taken to deescalate the fishing row’s tensions, the PM’s spokesperson said that it was not possible. As I said, the French side would have to deescalate.
Pushed on why the French side were claiming that specific measures had been agreed, the spokesman said: ‘You would have to ask the French government… our position has not changed.’
He stated that he was ready to issue additional licenses, as we have done throughout, if the required evidence is presented.
The French government is the sole authority on the question of whether the November 2 deadline has been met.
A spokesman for Johnson claimed that he had never intended to ‘escalate tensions’. “We are simply continuing to enforce law as laid out in the Brexit agreement.”
The spokesman said: ‘It will be for the French to decide whether they want to step away from the threats they have made over recent days… of course we would welcome that.’
Clement Beaune, Europe minister, was Mr Macron’s scapegoat, adding that Britain was not being a friend, ally, and responsible partner’.
However, the UK government insists licences are being granted where boats have evidence that they fished in waters pre-Brexit, with ministers insisting they will not relent.
Mr Johnson last night warned the EU not to side with France, while Brexit minister Lord Frost threatened to take legal action.
In response to Lord Frost, Mr Beaune tweeted: “After 10 months, when such an important amount of licences, targeted one country, is missing,” It’s not a technical problem, it’s a policy choice and a violation of the TCA.
“A friend, ally, and responsible partner should stand up for its world and adhere to legal obligations.”
He stated that the retaliation threats made starting November 2 were ‘proportionate.
He said, “It’s encouraging to read that the UK cares for the TCA; France, and the EU expect its full implementation, regarding fishing rights and the Northern Ireland protocol, and all other – accepted and ratified- matters.”
Downing Street stressed that the pair were ‘friends’ but anger is growing behind the scenes about France’s grandstanding behavior. Mr Macron faces a presidential election in spring.
One senior UK official stated: “The French have made it abundantly clear their position. They don’t want to have a constructive and positive relationship but only want to prove that Brexit was a mistake.
Another comment was added: “From explicit warnings about the impending shutdown of energy supply to Jersey to threats to impose customs controls on those who do not comply with their demands this has been an organized effort to undermine and now violate the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”
Despite being ready for a possible showdown over fisheries, Emmanuel Macron and Mr Johnson got bumped
France has threatened to impose port and border sanctions on Britain, including increased inspections of British vessels and increased tariffs on energy in Jersey. This is unless the UK issues more fishing licenses for small French boats by Tuesday. Pictured: French fisherman in the fishing town of Port En Bessin
French courts have demanded a £125,000 ‘ransom’ for the release of the British fishing trawler impounded in the Le Havre port
Lord Frost yesterday blasted a ‘pattern’ of threats made by France to Britain and said the UK Government is ‘actively considering’ starting legal proceedings against the country.
The Conservative peer protested in a series tweets against comments made by Jean Castex, French prime minister, in a letter addressed to Ms Von Der Leyen. He stated that the UK causes more damage to leave than to stay in the EU and that it is more damaging to do so.
Lord Frost stated that “To see it expressed like this is clearly very troubling and extremely problematic in the current context where we are trying to resolve many highly sensitive issues including the Northern Ireland Protocol.”