France refuses to retreat in post-Brexit fishing license spat with UK

France refuses to retreat in post-Brexit fishing license spat with UK

/ Europe

















Issued on: 19/11/2021 - 15:58





















French Europe Minister Clement Beaune at the EU headquarters in Brussels on September 21, 2021. © Kenzo Tribouillard, AFP











France is not backing down on its demand that the British crown dependency of Jersey grant all outstanding requests for post-Brexit licenses to French fishermen, its Europe Minister Clement Beaune told AFP on Friday.









"There is no abandonment, nor retreat. We are continuing with negotiations as well as pressure. We are requesting the same number of licenses," Beaune said.

His comments came after French fishing representatives reacted furiously to a proposal to spend millions of euros to compensate the scrapping of boats no longer able to ply Jersey waters.

Jersey is insisting that French fishermen prove they were already making catches in Jersey waters before Britain left the European Union last January, an administrative requirement that some are struggling to meet.

On top of outstanding requests, Jersey has granted only temporary licenses while talks with France continue, but Paris insists these must be