Monday, November 1st, 2021
Dispute over fishing licenses
Macron stops sanctions against the British
Paris and London cannot agree on the issue of fishing licenses. France wanted to control all goods from Great Britain from midnight and close its ports to British fishermen. But Macron is postponing the punitive measures for the time being – and now sees the British on the train.
In the dispute over fishing licenses, French President Emmanuel Macron stopped the entry into force of penalties against Great Britain at midnight. Macron referred to ongoing negotiations with the government in London on Monday evening on the sidelines of the world climate conference in Glasgow. “We will not impose sanctions while we are negotiating.”
A few hours earlier, Macron’s office had confirmed that announced punitive measures should come into effect at midnight if no breakthrough had been achieved by then. “The next few hours are important hours,” said the President now. “I assume that the British will come to us with further proposals tomorrow.”
A spokeswoman for the EU Commission had previously confirmed that representatives from France, Great Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey and the EU Commission should meet in Brussels for talks. According to Macron, these talks are to be continued on Tuesday. “We’ll see where we are at the end of the day tomorrow to see if things change in nature,” he added.
Paris and London are arguing over fishing rights in British territorial waters following the UK’s exit from the EU. Paris accuses the British authorities of granting too few fishing permits for French ships. France therefore wanted to control all goods from Great Britain from midnight and close its ports to British fishermen.
The British side has so far referred to the usual administrative procedures. There is nothing to negotiate, said a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday. London could respond to French sanctions with “retaliatory measures”, said Trade Minister Liz Truss on Monday.