Will He, or Won't He?

 

France's Fox To Be Shot

 

SCOOP in our Morning Trade UK newsletter: The UK is looking at a PERMANENT rerouting of more trade to the EU via northern ports to protect against FUTURE French tantrums that threaten the Dover-Calais route. pic.twitter.com/CFd7BdlSJG

— Emilio Casalicchio (@e_casalicchio) November 5, 2021

Armistice Declared

 

France has temporarily backed down from implementing its various threats over fishing rights around Jersey, allowing time for the UK and France to continue talking for the next day or so.

Depending on which side of Brexit they stand, the Twitterati are claiming it's either because Jersey granted 49 temporary licences yesterday, or because Macron backed down in the face of the UK's threat to retaliate.

In reality Macron was told to wind his neck in the by the EU, who have been less than forthcoming with any display of public support for him.

Lost in Translation - The Language of Diplomacy

 

There once was a time when French was known as the language of diplomacy.

Over the weekend a letter penned by the French PM Jean Castex (with his hand guided by Macron) to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrt the fishing dispute, caused something of a diplomatic meltdown between France and Britain.

Various journalists, academics and pro/anti Brexit bods spent the weekend arguing over the last sentence of the letter. Specifically whether it was a threat to punish Britain for leaving the EU, or whether it was that people need to be made aware that there are downsides to leaving he EU.

In reality either "translation" means in effect the same thing. Given that French was the language of diplomacy, Castex knew full well what he was saying; namely:

Pour encourager les autres!

Donnez-moi un Break - French Ambassador Summoned To The FCO

 

In response to French threats over fishing etc, the French ambassador to the UK, Catherine Colonna has been summoned to meet Britain’s Europe Minister Wendy Morton this afternoon at the FCO.

The fact that a junior minister is informing the French of the displeasure of Her Britannic Majesty's Government may, or may not, be taken as a sign that the UK doesn't want to escalate this too much or may in fact be taken as a slap in the face to France's dignity.

France Throws a Hissy Fit

 

France is none too happy with the UK and has decreed that it will introduce extra controls on boats and trucks coming from the UK, in retaliation for what it says is Britain’s failure to honour its commitments on fishing rights, the government announced Wednesday.

Bizarrely it has also threatened to disrupt the UK’s energy supply if Britain fails to address French concerns over fishing licenses. London branded the proposed moves "very disappointing."

From November 2, it will ban British fishing boats from landing at designated French ports and introduce systematic security controls of British boats as well as reinforced health and customs controls, it said Wednesday. It will also reinforce checks on trucks headed to or coming from the UK.

It said “a second series” of measures was also “being prepared.”

Unsurprisingly, David Frost was unimpressed.

1/2 It is very disappointing that France has felt it necessary to make threats late this evening against the UK fishing industry and seemingly traders more broadly.

We set out our position earlier this evening. https://t.co/2kuHofrWsw pic.twitter.com/kfhH2ML6hz

— David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) October 27, 2021

Poland Ups The Ante

 

🔴 Poland has vowed to "defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal" as it warned the EU against starting "World War Three" https://t.co/A2m9eNV7IY

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 25, 2021