De-escalation did not last long.

London announced on Thursday that it wanted to summon the French ambassador in response to threats of retaliation from Paris, which accuses the United Kingdom of granting post-Brexit fishing licenses to European fishermen in too small a number.

The government of the Anglo-Norman island of Jersey also said it was "extremely disappointed" by the measures announced Wednesday by France and which will apply from Tuesday.

Jersey has however announced the issuance of around 20 new licenses for French boats, most of them provisional.

France has promised to ban British fishing vessels from unloading their cargo in French ports, and to strengthen customs controls on trucks, if French fishermen do not obtain by next Tuesday more licenses to fish in the British waters.

The two countries have made more or less appeasing statements this week.

Arm wrestling and attempts at de-escalation

“We reiterate that the government has granted 98% of license applications from EU vessels to fish in UK waters and as we have made clear will be looking at any evidence for those who remain. », Added the same source, citing again a figure disputed by France, which speaks of 90%. Deeming the actions envisaged by France "unjustified", the head of British diplomacy Liz Truss instructed her secretary of state in charge of Europe, Wendy Morton, to "summon the French ambassador", announced a British government spokesperson in a statement.

British Environment Minister George Eustice called for "calm" and "de-escalation", saying his government's door "was always open", while French Prime Minister Jean Castex said he was "open to discussions ”provided that London“ respects its commitments ”.

Discordant speeches

But London also judged the French measures “disproportionate” and warned that they would be the subject of “an appropriate and calibrated response”.

The British government only understands "the language of force", retorted Thursday morning the French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune, while the Minister of the Sea Annick Girardin spoke of "a fight" to force the United Kingdom. United to respect its commitments.

The post-Brexit agreement, concluded in extremis at the end of 2020 between London and Brussels, provides that European fishermen can continue to work in certain British waters under certain conditions.

In areas still disputed, London and Jersey have granted a little more than 210 definitive licenses but Paris is still asking for more than 200.

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