UK welcomes France ‘stepping back’ from fishing threats
Britain has welcomed France having "stepped back" from threats to impose punitive action in a dispute over postbrexit fishing licences as talks to settle the row continue.
Environment Secretary George Eustice acknowledged a de-escalation from French president Emmanuel Macron as he held off on the action againstbritishboatsthathehad warnedcouldhavebeenimplemented yesterday.
But the Cabinet member said a meeting between Brexit minister Lord Frost and France's Europe minister Clement Beaune in Paris tomorrow would be "very important" as further talks with the EU are also scheduled.
Meanwhile, Downing Street was forced to clarify a suggestion by Mr Eustice that the British
vessel impounded during thediplomaticstormbecauseof "administrative confusion" had been released by France after it emergeditremainsinlehavre.
Mr Macron had warned that Paris could block British boats from landing their catches in French ports and tighten customs checks from midnight in protest at what they claim is a refusal by the UK authorities to grant licences to French boats.
But France suspended the threats at the eleventh hour as negotiations continue.
Mreusticetoldskynews:"we welcome the fact France has stepped back from the threats it was making last Wednesday.
"We've always said we want to de-escalate this and always said we have an ever open door to discuss any further evidence France or the EU might have on anyadditionalvesselsthey'dlike to have licensed.”
"France has clearly taken a decisionnottoimplementsome ofthedecisionstheythreatened last Wednesday, we very much welcome that.”mr Eustice told broadcasters he understood the Scottish-registered scallop dredger, the Cornelis Gert Jan, "hasnowbeenreleased"following "administrative confusion" related to a change in the vessel's engine.
However, officials later acknowledged it remained subject to detention by French authorities in Le Havre. Macduff Shellfish, the owner of the boat, was under the impression it would remain at Le Havre until at least after a hearing schedule in Rouen today.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The vessel concerned remains in port having been detained by the French authorities."