Minister for Europe Wendy Morton today (Friday 29 October) summoned French Ambassador Catherine Colonna to the FCDO.
The Minister expressed concern over the unjustified measures announced by France earlier this week, and said that if these were implemented as planned on 2 November, they would put the European Union in breach of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The Minister also expressed disappointment over the confrontational language that has been consistently used by the French government, which makes this situation no easier to resolve.
The Minister reiterated that the UK Government has granted 98% of licence applications from EU vessels to fish in the UK's waters and will consider any further evidence on the remainder.
UK ministers will continue to raise this issue with the EU Commission and French government and the UK will consider taking further action as necessary, including the possibility of launching dispute settlement proceedings under the TCA and of other practical responses, including implementing rigorous enforcement processes and checks on EU fishing activity in UK territorial waters, within the terms of the TCA.
