G20: return to the mixed interview between Macron and Johnson on the subject of fishing
Moment of relaxation between Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson in Rome, this Sunday, October 31, 2021 at the end of the G20 summit, after their complicated interview a little earlier, which had not given rise to a photo.
AFP - ANDREAS SOLARO
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Emmanuel Macron spoke at the end of the G20 in Rome to take stock of the summit.
Asked on this occasion about his meeting with Boris Johnson about the fishing crisis, the President of the Republic remained on his position, and the United Kingdom as well.
The meeting took place under tension, leading to contradictory statements.
For now: no white smoke.
Advertising
Read more
At the end of the meeting between Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron, this Sunday on the sidelines of the G20, "
the French and British leaders agree on the" de-escalation "of the fishing line
," the Agency first announced. France-Presse
on Twitter
, specifying that the information came from Paris.
Still according to AFP at the time, "
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have agreed to work on" practical and operational measures "to resolve a latent dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights
".
But a little later, a
new tweet
from AFP: “
The United Kingdom disputes the French statements.
"And Boris Johnson to declare, at a press conference at the end of the summit:"
On the fish, I must tell you that the position has not changed
.
The discussion was "
frank
", he said.
Decryption of the spokesperson for the British Prime Minister: “
If the French government comes up with proposals to mitigate the threats it has made, we will welcome them.
"
The French President wants "de-escalation"
The French president has since had the opportunity to react.
"
The ball is in the British
court," he told the press in Rome.
"
I hope there will be a British response tomorrow
," Macron said.
But otherwise, if the United Kingdom makes "
no move
", the first retaliatory measures prepared by France will be put in place on Tuesday, he concluded.
France is
threatening
to ban British trawlers from landing their fish in France, if the additional licenses requested for French fishermen to gain access to certain British waters, around the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, are not granted.
The “
de-escalation
” with the United Kingdom is what Emmanuel Macron wants, but not at any cost.
Our special correspondent in Rome,
Valérie Gas
, relates that according to the French Head of State, at the end of the meeting, he had sent the British Prime Minister's teams a document to propose a method in order to be able to move forward.
Direction Glasgow for the two leaders
This is what had been recorded, according to him, during the tête-à-tête.
"
We cannot fail to respond and defend our fishermen
", justified the French president, while Downing Street released a press release earlier in the day asking him to lift his ultimatum.
The meeting between the two leaders in Rome has therefore not allowed, for the moment, to reduce the pressure, concludes our special correspondent.
In this case, the national stakes are very important on both sides, and neither Boris Johnson nor Emmanuel Macron wants to give the impression of giving in.
The two leaders are to meet this Monday in Glasgow, in the United Kingdom precisely, for the start of the COP26 on the climate.
► To reread: Lines stretched between Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the G20
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
France
UK
Boris Johnson
Emmanuel Macron
Agriculture and Fishing
Diplomacy
Trade and Trade