The Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, assured this Sunday the fishermen of Hauts-de-France of his desire to "continue the fight" against London on post-Brexit licenses, after statements that had aroused their anger this week.
"We will continue the fight as announced", she declared after the meeting in Cap-Gris-Nez (Pas-de-Calais).
“We fight every day for these boats, for these licenses and we will not give up at all.
"" The interpretation that the English make of our files is inadmissible and does not respond to the goodwill of France, "she insisted.
"Targeted to piss off the English economy"
The representatives of the fishermen, however, let it be known after the meeting that they remained determined to put in place measures to express their dissatisfaction.
“The fishermen will move.
I believe they have been patient enough.
They've been waiting for eleven months, ”said Olivier Leprêtre, president of the Hauts-de-France regional fisheries committee.
“It will be targeted.
Not to piss off our economy or whatever.
It will be more to piss off the English economy, ”explained Bruno Margollé, president of the Etaploise maritime cooperative.
80% of cases settled
Annick Girardin had mentioned Thursday the possible compensation of French fishermen who would find themselves without fishing licenses in British waters because of Brexit, which had been seen as an admission of "defeat" by professionals in the sector.
"They have now understood what my position was and once again understood that the Minister of the Sea was at their side," she said.
Annick Girardin underlined that "80% of the files" were settled with "more than 960 licenses" of fishing granted.
“But I have always said that we should not leave anyone on the edge of the platform,” she stressed.
Fear on the sea
"Today, the British are in the process of exaggerating and exasperating pointillism", for his part declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, on LCI this Sunday, also promising to "fight license after license, boat after boat ”.
"This is a test that the United Kingdom is doing against the EU and the EU must demand respect for the agreement (on the new post-Brexit relationship)," he said. added.
“If they don't respect it, there are procedures that will follow.
"
President Emmanuel Macron tried to reassure the fishermen on Friday.
"We will not let go of our fishermen" and "before Christmas, France will have taken a position," he assured.
Eleven months after Brexit, around 150 French boats are still awaiting authorizations to set their nets in British waters.
While negotiations between Brussels and London are stalling, Annick Girardin announced Thursday that an envelope "of 40 to 60 million euros" could be released to set up a fleet exit plan.
Economy
Post-Brexit fishing: Criticized, Emmanuel Macron promises not to let go of the fishermen
World
Post-Brexit fishing: A "fleet exit plan" in preparation for unlicensed boats
England
Brexit
Peach
Sea
0 comment
0 share
Share on Messenger
Share on Facebook
Share on twitter
Share on Flipboard
Share on Pinterest
Share on Linkedin
Send by Mail
To safeguard
A fault ?
To print