Brussels, October 28 2021 - 10 months after the signature of the Brexit deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the numbers don’t add up for our French fishers. « The deal must be applied. Not more. Not less. This is what we ask of our British partners! », Stéphanie Yon-Courtin reacted. 

There is still a significant number of licenses missing to which French fishers are entitled. More than 200 licenses have still not been issued to French vessels. In Normandy, nearly thirty vessels and their crews are still waiting for their permanent licenses. "The required information has been transmitted to the British authorities: the blockage is on their side," said Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, member of the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee.   

 As a result, the French Minister of the Seas, Annick Girardin, and the State Secretary for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, announced last night a series of retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. The measures will be applied starting from November 2 if all the licences are not issued by then. The French Government already envisages a second set of measures related to energy provision.   

 As further proof that the French Government is determined and inflexible, two British vessels were fined yesterday during standard controls off Le Havre. "I welcome the strong announcements and concrete actions of the government. The message is clear: no more silly games, take our fishers seriously!”   

 Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, member of the delegation with the United Kingdom in the European Parliament, said : "These measures are not taken against the British citizens but to force the government of Boris Johnson to respect his word."   

 It is now up to the British Government and the Channel Islands authorities to prove their good faith. "The ball is now in the British camp," concluded MEP and regional representative Stéphanie Yon-Courtin.