France European Affairs Secretary, Clement Beaune has stated that Emmanuel Macron’s administration is poised to retaliate against Brexit Britain over its decision to deny fishing permits to small French boats, SurgeZirc UK reports.
Speaking to RTL, Beaune said: “We understand the frustration of our fishermen and we share it because it is unbearable not to honour an agreement that has been signed. We will negotiate until the very last minute to solve this.
“We have said it at all levels in the UK that we cannot cooperate freely, on other matters as well, while they do not respect the signed Brexit deal.
“We hope not to get to that point, but there are retaliatory measures that are possible under the Brexit deal.
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“In trade, to British products, for example.
“In the energy field as well, there are many subjects on which the British need us, and there is an overall agreement.
“If they don’t respect the part on fishing, we can and will take action, collectively in the EU.”
Macron’s France has slammed Brexit Britain of politicising fishing rights on Wednesday after London granted fishing licenses in its territorial waters to only 12 small French boats out of a total of 47 applications.
Britain has maintained that it would be happy to further talks with the rejected boats. According to them, the 35 boats declined fishing rights had not submitted evidence of their history of operating in the waters which constitutes a crucial requirement to continue fishing in the 6-12 nautical mile (nm) zone.
“Our approach has been reasonable and fully in line with our commitments in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA),” a UK government spokesperson said, referring to the free trade agreement between Britain and the European Union.
“As regards the 6-12nm zone, as set out in the TCA, EU vessels must provide evidence of a track record of fishing activity in those waters.”
Annick Girardin, France maritime minister has accused Britain of not complying with the Brexit agreement.
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“It’s a new refusal by the British to implement the conditions of the Brexit agreement despite all the work we have done together,” she said in a statement quoted by the Guardian newspaper.
“French fishing should not be taken hostage by the British for political ends.”
France and Britain have endured tempestuous relations in recent memory after the French lashed out at the UK for “stabbing an ally in the back” in an AUKUS pact involving the US, UK and Australia.
The AUKUS pact effectively undercut an earlier deal between Australia and France which would have seen the French gross a whooping £47b to supply nuclear submarines to the Aussies.