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Brussels has accused Britain of breaking the recently ratified trade agreement between the EU and the UK after French fishermen staged a maritime protest in front of Jersey’s main port over an escalation in fishing rights that caused London send two naval ships to the area.
The European Commission stated that the failure of the United Kingdom to justify and give prior notice of the special conditions associated with the licenses issued by Jersey to fish in the waters of the British Channel Island dependence was contrary to its obligations under the trade agreement.
The dispute is the latest friction between the two sides since Britain left the EU single market late last year.
A spokesman for the commission said Brussels had “indicated to the UK” that the provisions of the trade agreement “had not been respected”.
But senior Downing Street officials argued that the terms of the trade and cooperation agreement, ratified by the European Parliament last week, had been breached. “Jersey acted in accordance with the terms of the TC,” said a No. 10 expert.
“If the EU encounters a difficulty, as French fishermen seem, instead of using threatening language – like some French ministers – or trying to block a foreign port, they should use the TCA’s conflict resolution mechanisms, which the European Parliament has just ratified. “
Number 10 said the two Royal Navy patrol boats “would remain in place to monitor the situation as a precautionary measure”.
The waters around Jersey are covered by the fisheries chapter of the EU-UK trade agreement signed in the last days of 2020. The agreement establishes a system for maintaining some pre-Brexit fishing rights, including the possibility for vessels. with a tradition that they operate in coastal waters to continue to do so by applying for licenses.
French fishermen have complained of being forced to provide electronic control data to prove they had already operated in Jersey waters in order to receive a license.
Small boat owners argue that they do not have GPS technology and the rest of the electronic surveillance equipment needed. Other special conditions attached to the licenses relate to fishing gear.
The EU commission said that according to the trade agreement, any change to licensing rules “must be based on a clear scientific basis”, not discriminate between EU and UK vessels. and “be notified in advance to the other party, [giving] enough time to evaluate and react ”.
The administration of President Emmanuel Macron tried to lower the temperature on Thursday afternoon, with a senior official calling for a speedy solution to the Jersey problem and said any French retaliatory measures would be “the last resort” that Paris would not I wanted to apply.
Clément Beaune, Europe’s minister in France, said she had spoken to David Frost, her UK counterpart. “Our goal is not to keep tensions high, but to have a quick and complete implementation of the agreement,” he added.
Following this week’s French threats to cut off the island’s electricity supply, two Royal Navy ships (HMS Tamar and HMS Severn) patrolled Jersey waters as dozens of French fishing boats arrived to protest the restrictions on the island. its activity. France also deployed two ships along the maritime boundary between the waters of France and Jersey.
Royal Navy ship HMS Tamar has deployed © Gary Grimshaw / Getty Images
Under the terms of the post-Brexit trade agreement, if the dispute persists, the EU or the UK could ask an arbitral tribunal to review the situation, with the support of the threat of trade sanctions if the losing side does not meets the resolution of the group.
But Brussels said its approach now was to “get involved constructively” in an attempt to resolve the dispute. He demanded “moderation and calm.”
About 56 French fishing boats sailed to the port of St Helier on Thursday morning. Although some red flares were fired, the protests remained peaceful and the ships returned to France in the afternoon.
“The show of strength is over,” Dimitri Rogoff, who heads the Normandy regional fisheries committee at the French news agency AFP, said. “Now it’s up to politicians to do their job.”
Gregory Guida, Jersey’s deputy minister, held a 90-minute meeting with the French fisherman to hear his concerns.
John Le Fondré, Jersey’s chief minister, said the government recognized the challenges of implementing the new trade agreements.
“Talking directly with fishermen has allowed both parties to better understand how these challenges will be addressed and we propose the establishment of a forum that will allow the Jersey government to continue to work with all fishermen in the region.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to ministers in Jersey on Thursday, reiterating his “unequivocal support” for the island.
Number 10 said Royal Navy patrol boats “would remain in place to monitor the situation as a precautionary measure”.
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