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BRITAIN-EU-POLITICS-BREXIT-FRANCE-FISHING
France offers fishermen aid after Brexit trade deal
PARIS, Dec 25, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The French government on Thursday announced
measures to support fishermen and fishmongers, including up to 30,000 euros
in individual aid, after the European Union and the UK reached a post-Brexit
trade agreement.
Access to Britain’s rich fishing waters was a major sticking point in the
post-Brexit talks, and the deal sees EU fishing vessels steadily give up part
of current quotas.
“Fishermen and wholesalers will be able to benefit from a flat-rate aid of
up to 30,000 euros depending on their dependence on products caught in
British waters,” the French fisheries ministry said in a statement.
“The government will soon present its complete plan to support French
fishermen,” Minister Annick Girardin said.
The plan provides for compensation over a limited period for part of the
turnover losses of companies dependent on British waters.
Other measures include investment aid under a recovery plan and “fleet exit
plan” will be available for vessels dependent on British waters that want to
stop activity.
Britain had insisted it wanted to take back full control of its waters
while EU coastal states sought guarantees their fleets could keep fishing in
UK waters.
The two sides reached a compromise that will see European boats gradually
relinquish 25 percent of their current quotas during a five-and-a-half year
transition period.
After that there will be annual negotiations on the amount of fish EU
vessels can take from British waters — and if Brussels is not satisfied it
can impose economic measures against the UK.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0927 hrs