An exit from the crisis still uncertain. “The ball is in the British court” in the fishing crisis between France and the United Kingdom, declared, Sunday, October 31 in Rome, Emmanuel Macron, affirming that retaliatory measures would apply from Tuesday if London did not accept the “de-escalation” proposed by Paris.
France criticizes the United Kingdom for granting too few post-Brexit licenses to its fishermen. She promised, for lack of improvement, to ban on Tuesday British fishing vessels from unloading their cargo in French ports and to strengthen customs controls on trucks.
“If the British do not make any move, the measures of November 2 will have to be put in place because it will be an end of inadmissibility”, warned the French president on Sunday, saying “hope that there will be a positive response tomorrow”, while the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, called for a lifting of French threats.
Sunday in the middle of the day, after a discussion between the French president and the head of the British government, the Elysee and Downing Street had given two rather different versions of their exchange.
The two leaders decided to work on “practical measures” in “the next few days” to favor “a de-escalation”, announced the French presidency. “If the French government wants to come forward with proposals for a de-escalation in relation to the threats they have formulated, they will be welcome”Boris Johnson spokesman said in Rome, adding that “our position has not changed”.
Boris Johnson has “reiterated its deep concern about the rhetoric of the French government in recent days”, according to the Downing Street spokesperson. The measures that could start on Tuesday have been judged “disproportionate” by London which, in rare cases, summoned the French ambassador and threatened, in retaliation, to strengthen the control of European ships spawning in its waters.