The European Commission said on Thursday 30 September that it wants the UK to grant new fishing licences to EU vessels.
The Commission’s statement, seen by EUROPE, comes as France has again raised its tone vis a vis London, calling on the EU to take retaliatory measures after the UK and Jersey governments refused to grant sufficient licences to French fishermen and -women (see EUROPE 12801/10).
“We regret that with the number of licences granted today it still has not been possible to bring this issue to an end now. We will ask the UK for full disclosure of their methodology and will continue to engage in the interest of our fishermen and –women so that further licences will be provided”, argues the Commission.
The Commission is “fully committed to ensuring full implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the UK”.
The institution is in constant contact with the UK authorities to “ensure that all licence applications are dealt with as soon as possible. This will provide continuity for the fishing activities of the concerned EU fishermen and -women”.
The Commission has taken note of the announcements made by the UK Government and the Jersey authorities in relation to the issuing of licences for EU vessels in UK territorial waters and the waters of Jersey.
This is, according to the Commission, a complex exercise, especially for smaller vessels, “which are not legally required to record their positions and activities electronically”. However, the Commission assures that it has provided “all possible, available and relevant evidence demonstrating historic activity for the pending licences”.
Retaliatory measures? French Minister of the Sea Annick Girardin has set herself a 15-day deadline to convince the EU to take retaliatory measures against the UK if it fails to comply with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Asked about possible responses, Ms Girardin mentioned the supply of energy to Jersey, the reception of British students in France, the railway, and trade flows.
London granted French boats 12 licences to access its waters out of the 47 requested by Paris.
In total, 100 licences were granted out of the 175 requested, according to the French authorities.
The same disappointment was felt on the French side for the fishing zones around Jersey. Seventy-five licences were also rejected.
The decision of the ‘Bailiwick’ of Guernsey remains outstanding. The other Channel Island has committed, for the time being, to extend the current provisional licences until 31 January 2022.
Commissioner for Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius raised the issue on Tuesday 28 September with the UK authorities and is in constant contact with the French authorities, the Commission said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)