France will ask the European Commission to launch legal action against the UK unless Britain agrees to provide “a few dozen” licenses to French fishermen today, Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune said.
Admitting that the UK will not be able to provide all the licenses that France is requesting by Friday’s deadline, set for Britain by the EU, he said that if the British say, tonight, “we are providing a few dozen licenses as a gesture of goodwill to show that the dialogue is bearing fruit,” France will “take that into account”.
If the UK sticks to its current position and does not change criteria for issuing licenses, France is prepared to take measures, Beaune told radio station France Info.
“We’ll ask the European Commission to announce during the weekend opening of the litigation process with the Brits,” he said.
Beaune underlined that judicial procedure would involve not only “papers and courts” but also “custom measures that could be taken by Europe as a whole.”
Tensions between the UK and France have arisen over claims by French fishermen that the UK is withholding a significant number of licenses and is therefore violating its post-Brexit agreements. London denies the accusations, saying not all the fishermen have provided proper quota data. French fishermen demonstrated their frustration by temporary blocking several key ports on November 26.
WASHINGTON DC, Dec 10 (IPS) – When one in five pre-school children is stunted due to chronic undernutrition, it is clear that global diets urgently need to improve and diversify to include more nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and animal-source foods.
An extreme-right TV commentator has thrown the political world in France into turmoil by launching a presidential campaign ahead of next April’s election.
Joe Biden has pledged “additional military capabilities” for NATO’s easternmost members, Lithuania’s presidential advisor has revealed after talks between the US president and regional leaders.
The US president held phone talks with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine group on Thursday. The organization brings together eastern European countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria.
During the talks, that lasted some 45 minutes, the US leader pledged “additional military capabilities” for the region’s NATO members, Asta Skaisgiryte, foreign policy adviser for Lithuania’s president, told reporters.
“He said additional reassurance elements are possible in these countries, and additional military capabilities,” the official said, adding that the US leader has not elaborated on a possible location or exact details on the additional NATO military buildup.
“No country was specifically named. However, it can be understood that it is in the eastern flank of NATO,” she stated.
The US president also briefed the Bucharest Nine leaders on his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that largely revolved around Ukraine. Biden also assured the region’s leaders that he would never make any deals involving the eastern European countries behind their backs, according to Skaisgiryte.
The US president told the leaders that “nothing has been said about you without you,” the official added.
