France puts pressure on Britain as fishing rights row intensifies

France has intensified pressure on Britain over post-Brexit fishing rights, warning agreements between the two nations could be at risk

The Paris government is angry that the United Kingdom has granted 12 licences out of 47 bids for smaller vessels to fish in French territorial waters.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex has accused the UK of not respecting its Brexit deal commitments on fishing.

“Month after month, the UK presents new conditions and delays giving definitive licences… this cannot be tolerated.”

Castex warned that all bilateral agreements with Britain could be at risk if the European Commission failed to take a tougher stance on the UK government.

No specific details were provided during his statement, however the two nations have a raft of agreements covering defence, security and border controls as well as energy and trade.

Britain’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has stated that the government’s approach has been reasonable and fully in line with its commitments.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference, the UK’s Brexit minister rejected French claims that the UK was in breach of the Brexit trade deal.

The minister insisted that 98% of European Union applications to conducting fishing in UK waters had been granted, adding that Britain has so far been “extremely generous”.