Thread by @deGourlay

Thread: The Castex letter to @vonderleyen in English with thanks to @Barnes_Joe for the original.

Dear Madam President,

In my previous letter, I alerted you to the particular urgency of the granting by the UK to French ships of authorisations to access its waters and those of

the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, in accordance with the terms of the trade agreement. and cooperation. I thank you for your response, which shows the commissions mobilisation to achieve this objective,

and I also appreciate your strong commitment to finding solutions with regard to the application of the Protocol on Northern Ireland.

The European fishing sector as a whole has made significant efforts due to Brexit, which results in less access to British waters and to marine resources. It is all the more important that the terms of the agreement are respected.

At the end of the so called transition period, when the deadline of 1st July 2026 arrives at which the united kingdom will be entitled to decide alone on the link between access to its waters and the fishing possibilities of the European fleet,

the European Union will have to be in a position to better defend its interests. The non-cooperative attitude of the UK today risks no only cause significant harm to the fishermen, principally French, but equally for the Union,

in that it sets a precedent for the future and challenges our credibility and our ability to assert our rights under international commitments signed by the Union.

In this context, I welcome your involvement as well as that of your teams, which, together with the strength of the French administration and professionals, has already enabled the granting of a number of licenses due to French fishermen.

I regret, however, that despite these efforts the UK has only issued a limited number of definitive licenses (103 for the 6-12 mile zone, 113 licenses for Jersey, 0 licenses for Guernsey).

It therefore appears necessary for the European Union to show its total determination to obtain full respect for the accord with the UK and to assert its rights and use the levers at its disposition in a firm, united, proportionate manner.

it is essential to clearly show to European public opinion that the commitments entered into are not negotiable and that there is more damage to leaving the union than to remain.

France therefore requests that the following measures be adopted without delay:
A meeting of the partnership council in early November in order to bring this subject to the political level as Article 4 of the decision to conclude the agreement provides for in the event of

a substantive difficulty resulting from the implementation of the agreement, in particular in the field of fishing.

If no satisfactory solution is found in this context, the European Union should apply Article 506 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and take corrective measures, in proportion to the economic and social damage resulting from the alleged breaches,

in particular by establishing customs duties on certain fishery products.

I would add that France will also have to draw all the consequences in terms of access to the ports of disembarkation

Moreover, until a relationship of global trust has been established, I do not see how we could envisage the reinforcement of cooperation between the Union and the UK provided for in the agreement

Our aim is for the UK to grant the fishing licenses due under the agreement and, more generally that the re-establishment of confidence enables the overall consolidation of our relations.

I thank you in advance of your involvement in this subject. and ask you, Madam President, to believe in the assurance of my distinguished consideration.