Status: 11.12.2021 5:19 p.m.
In the fisheries dispute between France and Great Britain there has been a rapprochement: 23 additional licenses have been awarded to EU fishermen. The EU Commission speaks of an “important step”.
The European Commission has announced a breakthrough in the dispute between France and Great Britain over fishing rights in the English Channel. The British government had previously issued 18 further licenses to EU vessels for fishing in British waters and five off the Channel Island of Jersey, the Commission announced. A British government spokesman also gave these numbers.
It is unclear whether the recent award will satisfy France. Paris had asked for a goodwill gesture in the talks and spoke of about 100 missing licenses before the weekend.
“Important step”
A deadline in the dispute had only expired on Friday: The EU Commission, as a mediator, had asked Great Britain to settle the differences with France by December 10th. A formal agreement on the expiry of this period had not been announced.
However, the EU Commission now spoke of an important step in a long process to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) concluded between Brussels and the Kingdom after it left the EU. By Saturday, a total of 83 additional fishing permits had been added to the discussions that had been intensified since the end of November. France and the EU Commission now want to work together on the missing licenses.
Allegations from Paris to Great Britain
Paris and London have been arguing over fishing rights in the English Channel for months. Since Britain left the EU, French fishermen have had to apply for licenses. Because various applications have been rejected, France accuses Great Britain of not adhering to the Brexit agreements. London rejects this.
In the event that there was no agreement, Paris had threatened to ask the EU to initiate legal proceedings against the UK. However, European State Secretary Clément Beaune admitted on Friday that if Great Britain were to issue some additional licenses as a token of goodwill, this would be noted and the dialogue possibly continued.
The Channel Islands are much closer to the French coast than the English one. The French fishermen, who fear for their livelihoods, temporarily blocked access to three French ports in protest at the end of November.