Brexit Fishing Row Escalates: UK and EU Lock Horns Over Trade Agreement Compliance

Strategic Insights -

A bitter row between the UK and France has erupted over fishing rights, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson refusing to rule out triggering a dispute mechanism clause in the Brexit trade agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron accuses the UK of not keeping its Brexit pledges on fishing, citing a lack of credibility. The dispute centers around the UK's decision to withdraw a fishing license from a Scottish-registered scallop dredger, with France threatening to block British boats from its ports and tighten checks on vessels if the issue is not resolved by Tuesday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK has refused to rule out triggering the dispute mechanism clause in the Brexit trade agreement after France accused the UK of breaching the terms of the deal on fishing.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the UK of lacking "credibility" on fishing, citing the UK's failure to keep its Brexit pledges on the issue.
  • The dispute centers around the UK's decision to withdraw a fishing license from a Scottish-registered scallop dredger, which France alleges was fishing without a license.
  • The EU has stated that the trade deal made provision for vessels that were fishing in UK waters before Brexit to continue doing so, and has urged the UK to reconsider its decision on the license.
  • The UK has rejected the EU's call, citing a need to protect its own interests and ensure compliance with the trade agreement.
  • French authorities have accused a Scottish-registered scallop dredger of fishing without a license, and have detained the captain, who is an Irish national, pending a court hearing next year.
  • The dispute has escalated to the point where French President Emmanuel Macron has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to urge Brussels to back Paris' position against London.

Statistics:

  • The UK has stated that only 2% of EU vessel applications had been denied for fishing license.
  • The EU has stated that the trade deal made provision for vessels that were fishing in UK waters before Brexit to continue doing so.
  • France has threatened to block British boats from its ports and tighten checks on vessels if the issue is not resolved by Tuesday.
  • The captain of the Scottish-registered scallop dredger, Cornelis Gert Jan, is an Irish national who has been detained pending a court hearing next year.

Sources:

  • Sky News, "Boris Johnson refuses to rule out using dispute mechanism in Brexit trade agreement"
  • BBC Radio 4's Today programme, interview with Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president and chairman of the ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer
  • The Financial Times, interview with French President Emmanuel Macron
  • Commons Library, information on the dispute resolution mechanism in the Brexit trade agreement
  • European Commission, statement on the trade deal and fishing rights
  • French government, letter from Prime Minister Jean Castex to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
  • UK government, statement from Downing Street on the Rome talks and the Brexit trade agreement.