(Belga) The UK’s position on the dispute with France over fishing rights in the Canal has not changed. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed this today.
Paris had announced that it might retaliate against London if the British did not comply with French demands by today. Last night, French President Emmanuel Macron finally announced that he would not take any measures yet. Negotiations will continue on the sidelines of the International Climate Summit in Glasgow (COP26) in Scotland. “We’ll see where we are at the end of the day tomorrow,” Macron said. “I understand that the British will come to us with other proposals.” Meanwhile, it is clear that a meeting is scheduled in Paris on Thursday between Britain’s Brexit Secretary David Frost and France’s Minister of State for European Affairs Clement Bonn. However, when asked by a reporter at COP26 about the hunting dispute, Johnson replied today that the UK’s position has not changed. “We are working very, very closely with our French friends and partners on important issues,” he added. Referring to combating climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, he described the fishing struggle as “really irrelevant compared to this very important issue.” Franco-British tensions over fishing have been dormant for some time, but last week they erupted in full force. France accuses British authorities of granting too few licenses to French fishermen, thus violating the post-Brexit trade agreement between the European Union and Britain. The British object that they give licenses, but only to boats that can prove they also fish in British waters before Brexit. According to France, four out of ten of its fishermen’s applications were rejected. (Belgium)
Paris had announced that it might retaliate against London if the British did not comply with French demands by today. Last night, French President Emmanuel Macron finally announced that he would not take any measures yet. Negotiations will continue on the sidelines of the International Climate Summit in Glasgow (COP26) in Scotland. “We’ll see where we are at the end of the day tomorrow,” Macron said. “I understand that the British will come to us with other proposals.” Meanwhile, it is clear that a meeting is scheduled in Paris on Thursday between Britain’s Brexit Secretary David Frost and France’s Minister of State for European Affairs Clement Bonn. However, when asked by a reporter at COP26 about the hunting dispute, Johnson replied today that the UK’s position has not changed. “We are working very, very closely with our French friends and partners on important issues,” he added. Referring to combating climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, he described the fishing struggle as “really irrelevant compared to this very important issue.” Franco-British tensions over fishing have been dormant for some time, but last week they erupted in full force. France accuses British authorities of granting too few licenses to French fishermen, thus violating the post-Brexit trade agreement between the European Union and Britain. The British object that they give licenses, but only to boats that can prove they also fish in British waters before Brexit. According to France, four out of ten of its fishermen’s applications were rejected. (Belgium)
