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Stop threatening us “once and for all”: Lord Frost is preparing to lay down the law against Emmanuel Macron during confrontation talks in France on the post-Brexit fishing line
- Lord Frost will demand that France abandon its threats to fishing “once and for all”
- Brexit Minister will meet with Clément Beaune to try to defuse the situation
- Officials fear talks will escalate feud as Lord Frost makes clear government will not back down
Lord Frost will demand that France drop its threats to fishing “once and for all” while he holds talks in Paris.
The Brexit minister will meet with Emmanuel Macron’s European minister, Clément Beaune, to try to defuse the post-Brexit dispute.
But officials feared the talks would escalate the feud, as Lord Frost is making it clear the government will not back down on the issue of licenses for French fishing vessels.
Mr Macron (right) on Monday called off plans to stop British trawlers from unloading their catches in French ports and to introduce new controls on trucks arriving in the country
Paris has suggested he could reduce his threat of wreaking havoc on cross-Channel trade.
Mr Macron on Monday canceled plans to prevent British trawlers from unloading their catches in French ports and to introduce new controls on trucks arriving in the country. But French government spokesman Gabriel Attal warned Paris could pursue sanctions unless Lord Frost offers concessions.
“All options are on the table,†he said. “We may have to implement these measures if we cannot reach an agreement.”
Under the Brexit trade deal, French vessels can fish in the area between six and 12 miles off the UK coast until 2026 if they can prove that they have operated in those waters before.
But some boats have seen their license applications refused because they did not provide sufficient documentation.
Lord Frost to demand France drop fishing threats “once and for all” as he holds talks in Paris
Downing Street insisted it was not seeking to weaken evidentiary requirements for licensing in attempts to negotiate a solution to the dispute.
When asked if the threshold would be lowered, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “No, we remain convinced that we are applying the rules as they are set out. We have taken a number of steps to help. the French fishing fleet to provide the necessary evidence.
A government source said at the meeting in Paris Lord Frost would urge the French government to lift its threats “once and for all”.
“We are confident in our position,” they added. “There will be no change in our position. “
Under the Brexit trade deal, French vessels can fish in the area between six and 12 miles off the UK coast until 2026 if they can prove that they have operated in those waters before. Pictured: the scallop trawler which was impounded by the French maritime gendarmerie
Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis has released figures showing that 98 percent of license applications to fish in UK waters have been granted. Of the 1,831 submitted, 1,793 licenses were issued, 38 of which are pending further information.
However, only about half of the 217 fishing applications in the waters around Jersey resulted in permanent licenses being granted by its government.
French and European officials have decided to give an optimistic tone about the possibility of negotiating a truce. French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari praised the “constructive spirit” of the talks, while a spokesperson for the European Commission said the negotiations had been “positive”.
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