“It’s time for the UK authorities to come to their senses“, estimated Friday, October 29 on franceinfo Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market concerning the Franco-British tensions around the post-Brexit fishing license crisis.”Brexit is behind us and it’s time to rewrite a history together“, he continued. While the United Kingdom announces to have summoned the Ambassador of France to London, Thierry Breton has given its support to France.”The support [de la Commission européenne] is there, he has been there from the start“, he said.
“The wrongs are not really shared“, he said, before insisting”on this issue, from the start, good faith is not on the British side“. According to him, it is still missing”half of the licenses to be granted“to French fishermen. On Wednesday, France announced that it would implement retaliatory measures against the Channel Islands and the United Kingdom from November 2 if French fishermen do not obtain by then more licenses to fish in their waters.
But the European Internal Market Commissioner said he was confident after recent calls for discussion and de-escalation from both sides. “I have the impression that the British want to return to the negotiating table“, he assured. According to him,”the eyes of the world“which will focus on the COP26 on climate – which is to be held in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday – is a”good opportunity“for Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, of”come to your senses and ensure that this problem is resolved as it should be resolved“.
Regarding the tensions around the migration issue, Thierry Breton called on London to “honoring your commitments“.”The British have to pay 62.7 million euros to France, this money is still not there“, he lamented while London criticizes France for not preventing migrant crossings to the United Kingdom.”There has been political procrastination on the British side, now is the time to get back to the agreements and, if the agreements are honored, everything will be back to normal“, said the European Commissioner.
Thierry Breton, said to himself “convinced“that the British government will not follow through on threats to push the boats back into French waters.”We are not worried, we are used to these posturing but the British people are a great people, they will eventually find their senses“, concluded Thierry Breton.
Find the entire “8h30 franceinfo” of Friday, October 29, 2021: