French threaten power cuts and Christmas chaos in fishing row

And Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was ready to throw into question all aspects of the EU post-Brexit trade deal.

French PM Jean Castex at the National Assembly in Paris on Tuesday. Picture: AFP

France may announce within days that it is cutting electricity supplies to Britain in retaliation for the refusal to issue licences for French boats to fish in British ­waters, the Elysee Palace said.

Minister for Europe Clement Beaune threatened to reduce energy supplies to Britain as Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was ready to throw into question all aspects of the EU post-Brexit trade deal, which was concluded last December, because of Britain’s “failure to comply with its commitments” on fishing access.

“Along with my European counterparts, we have decided that within days we will take ­European or national measures to put pressure on the United Kingdom,” Mr Beaune said.

On Tuesday night, it was reported that French fishermen were threatening to disrupt Christmas for Britons by cutting off crucial supplies.

Olivier Lepretre, head of the northern France fisheries committee, said: “If negotiating fails, we will stop all French and European products reaching the UK, and all British products reaching Europe. Unless Boris backs down, the Brits will not have so many nice things to eat this Christmas. I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Mr Beaune noted that Britain was suffering from a shortage of fuel, which he said was a direct consequence of leaving the EU. “We could imagine, on the subject of energy – the Channel Islands and the UK depend on the supply of energy and our ability to export it,” he said.

“The UK thinks it can get along all by itself and then bash Europe. Since that doesn’t work, they escalate their aggressiveness. We will not be pushed around.”

Mr Beaune said France had demanded action from the European Commission after Britain’s refusal to abide by its fishing commitments. “If that is not sufficient, we will apply to the arbitration panel contained in the accords to make the British keep their word,” he said.

“We will put into question all the conditions of the execution more generally of the accords concluded by the EU and also, if necessary, the bilateral co-­operation we have with the UK.”

Mr Castex told parliament: “Britain does not respect its own signature. Month after month, the UK presents new conditions and delays giving permanent licences. This cannot be tolerated.”

France promised retaliation last week after Britain rejected most applications from smaller French vessels to fish in British waters. Jersey also drew French ire by refusing permits to a large number of French boats.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed down last year on his refusal to allow access to French craft, after the EU pointed out that Britain was seeking far more concessions from Brussels.

The connection to French electricity supplies was worth far more than the value of all the fish Europeans were catching in British ­waters, Michel Barnier, the EU’s negotiator, told David Frost, his British counterpart. “There is no reason that you should get access to our electricity market and at the same time deny our fishermen ­access to your waters,” he said.

The Times