On Monday (22) French fishermen’s representatives indicated that they are preparing for action in the coming days against the UK to protest the post-Brexit blockade of fishing licenses.
On Monday (22) French fishermen’s representatives indicated that they are preparing for action in the coming days against the UK to protest the post-Brexit blockade of fishing licenses.
The head of the Hauts de France Regional Fisheries Commission in northern France, Olivier, explained that the measure, “at a national level and coordinated by the National Fisheries Commission”, had not yet been fully defined, but should be “targeted for export” to the UK. Leprete, during a press conference.
He explained that “attacking the French economy is out of the question. We will hit the British economy,” noting that he did not want to punish British fishermen and prevent them from landing their products.
closing
In the past, fishermen had mentioned the option to block exports through measures in the port of Calais in northern France and in the vicinity of the Eurotunnel that links the European continent to England.
The goal, according to Lieberter, is “to tell the European Commission to assume its responsibilities” and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson “now does everything necessary to ensure that the agreement is respected”.
A union source said, “We’re not asking for more than the deal, we have no other excuse” and promised a “real wake-up” for the UK “not to play fair”.
“It is not a particularly French problem, it is a European problem,” insisted Lepreter, who said he received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (21). He is said to have stated that he “would not give up on the fishermen”.
Discussions continue
In Brussels, discussions continue. “There have been changes, but I would say they are not enough in terms of licenses,” French Prime Minister Jean Castix stated.
Nearly a year after Brexit, nearly 150 French boats are waiting for permits to fish in British waters. According to the agreement signed when the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2020, European fishermen can continue to operate in British waters, provided they can prove that they have already carried out their activities in the area before. But the French and the British do not agree on the nature and breadth of the documents that should be presented as evidence.
(With information from AFP)
