“With few exceptions, all French ports will no longer be accessible to British yachts,” French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said in an interview on the French TV station CNEWS, referring to ships unloading fish and produce. .
While some three or four ports will remain open to British fishing vessels when they close on Tuesday, the exact number will be decided in the coming week, he said: “There will be no tolerance, no indulgence.”
Bunin also said a security check that began on Wednesday night had stopped two British ships that were “not respecting the rules.”
The French Minister for the Sea, Anick Girardin, had previously confirmed that two British ships had been intercepted and fined, one of which had been taken to a French port.
Their statement said one of the boats was not listed on the EU’s approved list of UK fishing vessels, and that the regional government director “immediately released” the vessel towards the French port of Le Havre. did. ordered to turn.
Britain said it was investigating the incident. Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Environment Minister George Eustice said he had seen reports that confiscated ships were “originally on a list and then not on the list,” adding that it was something that was not listed. He had seen in his officers. Conduct an “investigation”. Immediately.”
A UK government spokesman told CNN on Thursday it was aware of “reports of enforcement activity being carried out by the French authorities” and was “immediately looking into the matter.”
The statement tweeted by Girardin said the second boat was fined for not complying with orders to allow French authorities to board the ship for investigation. Additional investigations by the French marine sexes found no further violations of the fishing rules.
Boats were stopped on the banks of Le Havre in the English Channel. The ship’s hold and the boat may be confiscated against the payment of bail before legal proceedings, the statement said, adding that “the captain of the fishing vessel risks criminal sanctions.”
fishing rights
The latest French measures come in response to the UK government’s refusal to grant fishing licenses to many French fishermen after Brexit. Bunin said that nearly half of French applications to fish in British waters were rejected; As of 1 October, the UK has licensed 15 of the 47 small French vessels that apply to fish in UK territorial waters, a spokesman for the European Union Commission told reporters on Tuesday.
Of the remaining vessels, France has agreed to reject applications for 17 vessels whose evidence of fishing activity in British waters was considered poor before Brexit, the spokesman said.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex told reporters on Thursday that about 40% of French applications to fish in British waters have yet to be approved, with fishing areas varying. However, a UK government spokesman said on Thursday that 98% of license applications to fish in UK waters were delivered from EU vessels.
“Our ministers are working round the clock, but at the same time, I want to tell the British government that we will make sure that our interests are respected and our point of view is kept,” Castex said.
He said he wanted to see “de-escalation”, but the British government had “all the keys to achieving it”.
A French government statement said “targeted measures” against the UK from 2 November include strengthening customs and sanitation checks, systematic security checks of British ships and strengthening checks on trucks leaving the UK. What will happen.
Bunin said a “systematic check” on the trucks would also include their cargo, adding that these were “designed not to cut off contact, to cut off access, but to be extremely strict with respect to inspections”. were done.”
“This is not a war, but a fight,” Girardin told French radio station RTL on Thursday morning. A second series of French countermeasures is being drawn up, a government statement said, adding that “in this context, France does not exclude a re-examination of the supply of energy it provides to the UK.”
“Now we must speak the language of force because … this British government only understands it,” said Bunin. “We can’t be in an environment of trust with a neighbor, a partner who doesn’t respect the rules.”
On Wednesday, before the latest measures were formally announced, the UK declared the proposed moves as “dangers” that were “disappointing and disproportionate”.
A UK government spokesman said “the measures being threatened do not appear to be compatible with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and broader international law” and added that “if implemented, would be appropriate and calibrated”. Will be met with feedback.”
The UK said it would convey its concerns to the European Commission and the French government.
A spokesman for the Commission said in a statement on Thursday that the EU would continue talks with both Britain and France to resolve the issue.
According to the statement, the EU insisted that “all French ships entitled to a licence should obtain one.”
He also confirmed that his “trade and cooperation agreement with the UK is clear: fishing vessels should be allowed to continue in these waters.”
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