Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs, has shown his firmness vis-à-vis London on the thorny subject of fishing.
The agreement concluded four months ago is only partially implemented according to the French authorities and the government is now threatening to take "retaliatory" measures.
France threatened Tuesday, through the voice of Clément Beaune, the United Kingdom of "retaliatory measures" on financial services if the post-Brexit agreement on fisheries is not implemented.
A stumbling block until the end of the Brexit negotiations, the agreement on fisheries is still slow to be put in place, arousing the discontent of professionals and a call from France for firm European action.
In particular, it provides for the British to issue licenses for the 6-12 nautical mile zone off their coasts, where European fishermen traditionally went.
only 22 boats out of 120 have received their license
"We are asking for the whole deal, just the deal and as long as it is not in place (..) we will take retaliatory measures in other sectors if necessary," the secretary said. French State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, on the BFM Business channel.
"The UK is expecting a number of financial services clearances from us. We will not give any until we have the guarantees that on fisheries and other matters the UK complies with. its commitments, ”he added.
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"It's give and take. Everyone must respect their commitments otherwise we will be as brutal and difficult as necessary as partners," added Clément Beaune. More than four months after the conclusion of the negotiations, only 22 boats out of 120 from Boulogne-sur-Mer (North), the first French fishing port, received the precious license allowing access to these waters rich in fish, according to a local manager of the sector, Olivier Leprêtre.