Boris Johnson has not ruled out taking legal action against France as a row between the two nations over post-Brexit fishing rights continues to escalate.
The PM suggested to Sky News’ Beth Rigby that France could have breached a Brexit treaty and that he will “do whatever is necessary to protect British interests” if UK ministers believe the UK-EU trade agreement has been violated.
Tensions over post-Brexit fishing rights escalated on Thursday when France seized a British scallop trawler and threatened to block ports and increase checks on boats and lorries over the UK denying some boats a licence to fish in Jersey’s waters.
Image: Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron meet at the G20 summit in Rome Image: Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron at the G20 summit in RomeRelations between the two nations were frayed further on Friday when French President Emmanuel Macron told the Financial Times that the UK is risking its “credibility” after going back on commitments made to the EU with regards to fishing.
Addressing the diplomatic dispute on Saturday ahead of the G20 summit in Rome, Mr Johnson admitted to Sky News that he is “worried” that the French may have broken the treaty with regards to fishing.
AdvertisementPressed on whether he could rule out triggering the dispute mechanism against the French next week, the PM added: “No, of course not, I do not rule that out.”
A Downing Street spokesperson added: “If France were to proceed with the threats that they have set out, we will act in a calibrated manner.”
More on European Union Related Topics: European UnionG20The dispute process would see a consultation period started, after which, if there is no solution found, an arbitration panel would be formed with compensation demanded or even the treaty suspended as punishment, according to the Commons Library.
Meanwhile, a letter seen by Sky News shows the French Prime Minister Jean Castex urging the bloc to prove that there is “more damage to leaving the EU than to remaining there”.
UK-France fishing row intensifiesIn the correspondence to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, dated 28 October, Mr Castex states: “It’s essential to clearly show to European public opinion that respecting commitments isn’t negotiable and that it’s more damaging to leave the European Union than to stay in it.”
Mr Castex adds that the EU must demonstrate its “total determination” to force the UK to stick to the agreements it has made on fishing.
The row erupted after the UK authorities refused to give licences to 55 French fishing vessels to fish in UK waters because they believed they did not meet the requirements.
But the French claim the British are in the wrong and had threatened to make it difficult for UK fishers and lorry drivers in France.
Tensions escalated further after a British scallop trawler – named the Cornelis Gert Jan – was detained in Le Havre on Thursday.
Image: French President Emmanuel Macron came face-to-face with Boris Johnson at the G20 summit and will again at the upcoming COP26 climate conferenceAndrew Brown, head of public affairs for Macduff Shellfish, which owns the boat, said the charge “relates to fishing in French waters without a licence and that’s the bone of contention”.
“We believe we were fishing with a valid licence and the French authorities don’t,” he said.
As well as detaining the scallop trawler, France has also fined two other fishing vessels over the row.
Mr Johnson said: “If another European country wants to break the TCA – the Trade and Cooperation Agreement – then obviously we will have to take steps to protect UK interests.”
“We are very keen to work with our friends and partners on all these issues,” he told Beth Rigby.
Pressed on whether the UK will launch a dispute settlement with France next week after Brexit minister Lord Frost warned proceedings could be launched, the PM said: “If there is a breach of the treaty, or if we think there is a breach of the treaty of course we will do what is necessary to protect British interests.”
Image: Fishing boats moored in the port of Boulogne, FranceAsked if he believes there has been a rule-break, Mr Johnson said: “I am worried that there might be – and I am looking at what is going on at the moment, and I think that we need to sort it out.”
Mr Johnson said the UK government “want to see that treaty observed”, but added that “the much more important issue” before world leaders today is climate change.
The PM and President Macron came face-to-face at the G20 summit in Rome this weekend and will do again at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.
The PM’s official spokesperson said: “We have been working with the French government to issue more licences. We stand ready to continue that work.
“We have seen a number of comments from the French government at varying levels in recent days and weeks that we don’t think are justified.”
France says the decision from the UK and Jersey in September to deny fishing licences to French boats was a breach of the Brexit deal.
Brexit: ‘These threats are not acceptable’French officials have warned that they will prevent British boats from landing their catches in some French ports next week unless the row is resolved by Tuesday.
Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the UK has issued post-Brexit licences to 1,700 vessels, including 750 French fishing boats, which amounts to 98% of applicants.
He said the remaining 55 vessels, despite the UK trying to help them with the data, could not prove they had fished in Jersey’s waters previously so could not get a licence under the trade and cooperation agreement with the EU.
Mr Eustice said: “We don’t know what we’ll do, they said they wouldn’t introduce these measures until Tuesday at the earliest, we’ll see what they do.
“But if they do bring these measures into place, well, two can play at that game and we obviously reserve the ability to respond in a proportionate way.”
The French ambassador to the UK was summoned to Downing Street on Thursday over the issue.
What is the dispute settlement process?The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) established a new framework for law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal and civil law matters post-Brexit.
Both the UK and France are currently accusing each other of breaching the agreement, which was formed last Christmas Eve, over licences to fish in UK waters following the country’s exit from the European Union.
The TCA offers both the UK and a member of the EU to trigger a dispute settlement process against another signatory if they are unhappy.
They can request arbitration, a consultation and a tribunal ruling.
The PM warned on Saturday that France may be in breach of the TCA over its threat to block British fishing boats from ports and to carry out tougher checks in the Channel.
Triggering the dispute settlement process clause in the TCA allows the opportunity for the UK to respond to these threats with proportionate sanctions on the French – which could affect boats that do not have permits enabling them to be cleared to operate in UK waters.
If launched, a consultation period would be started, after which, if there is no solution found, an arbitration panel would be formed with compensation demanded or even the treaty suspended as punishment.
