‘Action imminent!’ French fishermen break away from EU in direct threat to UK

Andrew Marr grills Šefčovič on Lord Frost's proposals

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France and Britain have been at loggerheads for months over how many licences French fishermen should get as part of a post-Brexit deal, with France accusing Britain of not handing out enough permits and Britain saying it is respecting the deal. But with talks dragging on, fishermen have decided to take matters into their own hands according to Olivier Lepretre, president of the business body that represents fishermen’s interests in northern France.

Mr Lepretre said: “Action is imminent.” Without going into details of what form the action will be taken, he made clear that it would affect trade, saying: “Britain wants to get access to the European market? They should give us the licences. If not, we will cut their access.”

Speaking yesterday, French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune hinted patience was wearing thin.

He said: “We still have all options on the table, including these measures, we will 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.

“If we want to work together on defence, and security, and foreign policy, and crises like the one we see in Belarus, or maybe in Ukraine, in the Balkans, which is a big concern for the UK as well, you need trust and to be true to your words.

“If we have doubts, it’ll never work. So I say to the UK again, this is in your best interest to settle this.”

Additional reporting by Luke Hawker and Ciaran McGrath.

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KEY EVENTS

  • EU using NI as a political weapon! Britons shame Brussels over stubborn Brexit battle13:43
  • Gleeful Irish TD taunts Brexit Britain over ferry routes bypassing UK: ‘More to come!’08:44
  • ‘Comeback!’ Nigel Farage considers return to frontline politics in threat to Boris Johnson08:04
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    ‘Trans-Channel traffic will be blocked’

    But Stephane Fournier, one of the dozens of fishermen awaiting a licence, said fishermen across the region had been informed that the action would take place from Friday.

    He warned: “All trans-Channel traffic and all freight in all the ports of France will be blocked.”

    French fishermen have previously taken matters into their own hands, including, in April, blocking trucks carrying fish from British waters to processing centers in France.

    In May, the British Royal Navy sent two patrol boats when French boats blockaded the Saint Helier harbour in Jersey.

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    French fishermen are planning protest action against Britain’s refusal to grant them more licences to operate in UK territorial waters, a fishing representative said on Tuesday, threatening to cut Britain’s access to the EU’s single market.

    France and Britain have been at loggerheads for months over how many licences French fishermen should get as part of a post-Brexit deal, with France accusing Britain of not handing out enough permits and Britain saying it is respecting the deal.

    But with talks dragging on, fishermen have decided to take action said Olivier Lepretre, president of the business body that represents fishermen’s interests in northern France.

    Mr Lepretre said: “Action is imminent.”

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    France is begging Brussels to intervene in the increasingly bitter row over fishing access to UK waters – and has ominously warned it is ready to act unilaterally if necessary.

    Clement Beaune, a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, said all options remain on the table, with his country ready to impose tighter checks on imports and a ban on British trawlers landing catches in French ports.

    Speaking on Monday, France’s Europe Minister said: “We still have all options on the table, including these measures, we will 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.

    “It would be a mistake to think you can have quick wins, or short-term wins, with your neighbours.

    Source: Read Full Article