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French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune warned on Tuesday that France will take “retaliatory” and even “retaliatory” measures inside eight days if the UK doesn’t grant extra licenses to French fishermen.
France points an ultimatum to the UK. Paris will take “counter-action” measures inside eight days if London doesn’t grant extra licenses to fishermen French, declared Wednesday night October 13 the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune.
“In about eight days, we’ll announce measures of response, retaliation, retaliation if crucial, nationwide or European, if we have no concrete UK signals on the licensing issue“, Clément Beaune insisted within the Senate.
France is threatening specifically to scale back its electrical energy deliveries to Jersey and to take measures within the monetary providers or analysis sector.
“Now we have been very affected person, too affected person (..) The British don’t need to give a sure variety of licenses not as a result of they lack data however as a result of they made this political selection”, insisted the secretary of state.
“A European downside”
The post-Brexit agreement, concluded on the finish of final yr between London and Brussels, offers that European fishermen can proceed to work in sure British waters on situation of acquiring a license, granted if they will show that they fished there beforehand. However the French and the British argue over the character and extent of the supporting paperwork to be offered.
Within the nonetheless disputed fishing zones (6-12 miles from the British coasts and the Channel Islands), London and Jersey have thus granted a complete of simply over 200 definitive licenses, whereas Paris remains to be claiming 244.
“It isn’t a French downside (…) It is a European downside,” Clément Beaune insisted, recalling that Belgium and Eire have been additionally involved. “We’re mobilizing our European companions.”
Eleven international locations, together with France who called for a European front against London after the British selections on fishing licenses, on Monday signed a joint declaration criticizing the UK’s responses to this file. Moreover France, Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Eire, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden have signed this declaration.
With AFP
