On Thursday 6 May the European Commission called on France and the United Kingdom to return to “calm” in Jersey and to avoid increasing the tensions currently surrounding the implementation of the fisheries part of the EU-London Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
But it considers that new requirements from London for the granting of fishing licences “do not respect” the terms of the agreement just ratified by the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12708/7).
Tensions have risen sharply in recent days between the two countries over the issue of licences for European fishermen in the Channel Islands and new conditions imposed, such as proof of the history of European vessels in these waters.
France has threatened to cut off electricity to Jersey in retaliation, as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement itself links the end of the current transition period for fishing quotas to energy policy to give the EU leverage.
In a sign of the high level of tension, British and French patrol boats have even been sent to the area.
On Thursday, the Commission confirmed that it had received a letter from the UK authorities on 30 April informing it of the new licensing requirements for European vessels.
We have been informed by the UK of “a list of 41 ships” from France that come with new requirements that do not appear to “respect” the objectives of the agreement, said Vivian Loonela, a Commission spokeswoman. “We have told the UK that any conditions that restrict fishing activities must respect the terms of the agreement and the scientific evidence”, and be notified early enough to allow for prior assessment and response, she added. And until the UK authorities provide further justification for these new conditions, “these new conditions should not apply”.
At this stage, however, the Commission wants to reach a “good faith solution”, and does not intend to trigger the dispute settlement system contained in the bilateral trade agreement right away.
For the French Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, 41 licences were granted out of “344 requests”, without prior consultation, AFP reported. Two days earlier, she had indicated that France was prepared to resort to “retaliatory measures”, mentioning in particular possible repercussions on the “submarine cable transmission of electricity” that supplies Jersey from France.
“The UK has signed an agreement: if it does not respect it immediately, France’s response must finally be firm and concrete”, reacted François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, France), on Twitter.
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, European fishermen can continue to fish in UK waters, but will lose 25% of their current fishing quotas by 2026. A new bilateral agreement will then be negotiated. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)