Brussels says the UK has broken a trade agreement in the Jersey fish case

Brussels has accused Britain of violating a recently ratified EU-UK trade agreement with French fishermen protesting at sea outside the main port of Jersey as a result of a severe alignment of fishing rights in London, which prompted the shipment of two London vessels.

The European Commission has said the UK’s failure to justify and warn in advance of the special conditions attached to its licenses for fishing in the dependent waters of the British Channel Island goes against its obligations under the trade agreement.

The conflict is the latest friction created by both sides since Britain left the EU single market late last year.

A spokesman for the commission said Brussels had “informed the UK” that the provisions of the trade agreement had been “not respected”.

But top officials on Downing Street argued that the terms of a trade and cooperation agreement ratified by the European Parliament last week had been breached. “Jersey acted within the terms of the TC,” said a 10-year-old man.

“If the EU encounters any difficulties, as French fishermen seem to do, instead of using threatening language – like some French ministers – or trying to block a foreign port, the European Parliament should use conflict resolution mechanisms in the TCA.

No. 10 said the two Royal Army patrol vessels “will continue as a precautionary measure to monitor the situation.”

The waters around Jersey cover the fishing chapters of the EU-UK trade agreement put in place in the last days of 2020. The agreement establishes a system to maintain some pre-Brexit fishing rights, including the option of traditional boats. to operate in coastal waters by applying for licenses to continue to do so.

French fishermen have complained that they were forced to provide electronic control data to prove they had operated in Jersey waters before receiving their license.

The owners of the small boats say they do not have GPS technology and other necessary electronic surveillance equipment. Other special conditions attached to the licenses are related to fishing gear.

The EU commission said the changes to the licensing rules under the trade agreement “should be based on clear scientific reasoning”, not to discriminate between EU and UK vessels and “inform the other party in advance,” [giving] enough time to evaluate and react ”.

The administration of President Emmanuel Macron wanted to lower the temperature on Thursday evening, and a senior official called for a quick solution to the Jersey problem and said French revenge measures would be the “last resort” that Paris did not want to impose.

Clément Beaune, the French European minister, said David Frost had spoken to his UK counterpart. “Our goal is not to maintain high tensions, but to have a quick and complete implementation of the agreement,” he added.

Following French threats to cut off the island’s electricity supply this week, two Royal Navy ships — HMS Tamar and HMS Severn — guarded Jersey waters as many French fishing boats arrived to protest their restrictions on their activities. France also deployed two vessels on the sea border between French and Jersey waters.

Under the post-Brexit trade agreement, if the dispute continues, the EU or the UK can ask an arbitration panel to examine the situation, backed by the threat of trade sanctions, if the losing party fails to comply with the panel ruling.

But Brussels said it was “acting constructively” to try to resolve the conflict for the time being. He demanded “favor and tranquility.”

On Thursday morning, 56 French fishing boats set sail for the port of St Helier. Although some red flares erupted, the protests seemed to continue quietly and the boats returned to France in the evening.

“There has been a show of strength,” Dimitri Rogoff, head of the Normandy regional fisheries committee, told AFP in France. “Now it’s up to politicians to do their job.”

Assistant Jersey Minister Gregory Guida held a 90-minute meeting with the French fisherman to hear their concerns.

John Le Fondré, Jersey’s chief minister, said the government has acknowledged the challenges of implementing new trade arrangements.

“Talking directly with fishermen has given the two sides a better understanding of how to meet these challenges and we are proposing to create a forum that will allow the Jersey government to keep in touch with all fishermen in the region.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to the Jersey minister on Thursday, reaffirming his “undoubted support” for the island.

Number 10 said the Royal Navy patrol vessels “will continue to do so as a precautionary measure to control the situation”.

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