London: Britain’s environment minister pledged Friday to retaliate if France carries through on threats to block UK ships from French ports, warning that “two can play at that game” in the worsening dispute rooted in Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Britain summoned the French ambassador for a dressing-down after French authorities fined two British fishing vessels and kept one in port overnight Thursday.
Since the UK left the economic orbit of the EU in January, relations between London and Paris have become increasingly frayed as the nations on either side of the English Channel sort out a post-Brexit path.
France has threatened to block British boats and tighten checks on UK vessels unless French vessels get more permits to fish in UK waters.
France also suggested it might restrict energy supplies to the Channel Islands, British Crown dependencies that lie off the coast of France.
“We will see what they do,” Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News. “But if they do bring these into place, well, two can play at that game and we reserve the ability to respond in a proportionate way.”
The UK government said France’s ambassador, Catherine Colonna, would be summoned to the Foreign Office Friday, in an official sign of displeasure.
“We regret the confrontational language that has been consistently used by the French government on this issue, which makes this situation no easier to resolve,” the British government said in a statement.
France vehemently protested the decision last month by the UK and the Channel Island of Jersey to refuse dozens of French fishing boats licenses to operate in their territorial waters.
Dozens of other licenses were granted. France says the restrictions are contrary to the post-Brexit agreement that Britain signed when it left the EU.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s executive said UK authorities withdrew the impounded vessel’s license to fish off France March 1.
But Macduff Shellfish, which operates the impounded scallop vessel Cornelis, hit back in a statement, saying it had access to French waters under the Brexit deal and that its activities were “entirely legal,” and that it would defend itself against all claims. Its statement did not offer specifics on licenses.
“It appears our vessel has been caught up in the ongoing dispute between the UK and France on the implementation of the Brexit Fishing Agreement,” the company statement said.
“We are looking to the UK government to defend the rights of the UK fishing fleet and ensure that the fishing rights provided under the Brexit Fishing agreement are fully respected by the EU.”
AP