The conflict between France and the United Kingdom over the issue of fishing licenses is endless and Paris begins to stampede. “France remains open to dialogue, but a quick solution must be found for our fishermen, in application of our agreements,” tweeted Clément Beaune, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, after an interview on Tuesday. morning with David Frost, his British counterpart in charge of Brexit.
Under the Brexit deal, European fishermen can continue to work in certain UK waters provided they can prove that they previously fished there. But the French and the British argue over the nature and extent of the supporting documents to be provided. Paris, which accuses London of not respecting the terms of the agreement, says 200 license applications for French boats are overdue, a figure that London disputes.
Despite several bilateral meetings at several levels as well as the involvement of the EU, the situation is paralyzed and takes place in a wider context of significant deterioration in Franco-British relations and tensions between London and Brussels on the issue of Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit.