The UK-France Bitter Relations on Battles in Jersey Waters
France and the UK’s political relations are in the heat one more time as France threatens to cut off Jersey’s energy supply over fishing rights. The economic and political tension between UK-France had escalated before the UK joined the European Union (EU). The pressure then worsened after the British Exit (Brexit). How can the relations keep declining?
Jersey waters: between the UK and France
Following Brexit, Britain has to renegotiate 750 agreements such as trade, agriculture, and fishery.[1] One of the rising issues is the Channel tunnel dispute, which started in May 2021, when French fishing boats were banned across the Jersey waters. Jersey waters are not part of the UK or the EU but under the British Crown Dependency. Jersey is the territory off the coast of the UK that is self-governing of the Crown.[2] The political relation between Jersey and the UK makes the UK responsible for Jersey’s international relations issues. Fisheries disputes regulate under TECA as Jersey has agreed to the UK-EU Trade and Economic Coordination Agreement (TECA).[3]
Jersey waters are close to 14 miles from the French coast. The French fishers usually conduct their fishery activities up to three miles from the territory and can only access the UK’s exclusive economic zone up to 12 miles from the shoreline. The boat’s quota will gradually reduce to one-fourth in six years—the agreement limits the vessel that could have a formal license near Jersey waters.[4] They need the licenses to prove the previous operation near the waters, including information about types of fish and days on the water.[5]
The restriction started the tension, as Jersey has only given fishing licenses to around 41 French boats. Jersey claims the French fishers’ rights are getting expired. The UK gave an additional 12 out of 47 requested licenses.[6] Fishing issues are essential for the economic activities of the French fishers, but the undiscussed requirements make them block the Channel Islands.
Paris saw the restriction as “totally unacceptable.” Paris is deeply concerned about London acting recklessly and illegally since the fishers had never been restricted. They also accused London of lifting the fishing policies without consulting, which violates the agreement. In response, the Jersey fishers said they were “ready for war” with France.[7]
Spillover Effect of Jersey Waters: France puts more pressure on the UK
According to the concept of political realism, the state views international politics based on its security, national interests, and power struggles. In realism, states are usually more competitive and conflictual rather than cooperative.[8] States will also increase their ability to become a more robust military power in case of change in power distribution or fear of survival. Even though both countries need one another in the UK-France case, the tensions are nearly inevitable. France needs the fishing resources, and Jersey relies on their electricity from the French.
Since the French fishers expressed their protest, Britain, in May 2021, sent their warships near Saint Helier Port. Britain remained to patrol the area, and French warships came to guard the security issues.[9] It is unlikely the tension will turn into physical contact because both Britain and French are not willing to take the risk to another level. However, the response using warships shows how vital these issues are to protect their power and sovereignty.
France asserts their political power as they keep threatening Jersey’s energy supply and even the UK on checking the migrant stowaways in France. France knows how crucial the migrant issues in Calais, near the English channel, are for the UK’s asylum seeker situation. Under the Anglo-Saxon deal, the UK needs to pay around £44.5m for funding and supporting the security measures and policies for the French guarding the UK borders.[10] In fact, in the European region, migrant issues were a sharing responsibility and solidarity among the EU member states. Threatening the rights of securing the migrant might give the French and EU another complicated problem.
Immigration issues have always become essential for the stability of Britain’s social, political, and economical. The Immigrations issue could shape Britain’s public sentiment, especially concerning the ever-higher history of Brexit voting. Overall, “fish” is not the main issue, as it exudes British pride and nationalism in British maritime power. Public opinions are crucial for British political legitimacy. Since France threatens to cut off energy and stop border security checks, an energy shortage and a security crisis might occur.
The British ‘exceptionalism’
The French government is not the only one who disagrees with what the UK has done. Ten European Union member states, including Germany, ‘backed’ the French in pressing the UK to act according to the agreement.[11] The rise of support seems to show the UK on severe consequences of withdrawal from the EU. Through its Prime Minister, Jean Castex, French stressed the EU needs to do more and take a firmer stance on the UK about the Channel waters.[12] Clement Beaune, other allies of President France E. Macron, also added with “They think they can live on their own and badmouth Europe as well. And because it does not work, they indulge in one-upmanship, and in an aggressive way.”
In France’s perspective, British exceptionalism makes Britain always feel “superior” and “unique.” France tries to make Britain pay the price on some levels. As seen from French politician elites, they wanted the UK to face the issues on fishing policies into more serious political and security problems.
The UK-France relations correlate with the elite politician and global governance. Both Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron wanted more global power and recognition in their own countries. On the one hand, the UK’s open confrontation with France, later backed by other EU member states, reflects the EU-UK bad blood and is hard to reset. The UK only builds bilateral relations with the EU state members. The closer relations with the EU directly will cause more administrational and more political obstacles.
Macron has always been vocal to Boris Johnson and wanted Johnson to “keep his word” with the Europeans.[13] Macron’s distrust of Johnson has made it harder for both countries to reset their relations. In addition, France wants the EU to be more confronted with the UK, as the UK is trying to build and raise its power and support on a global scale as the AUKUS created. As one of the strongest opposition to Brexit, Macron wanted to stress the consequences of Brexit as the most significant political mistake of the UK.
So, how can it be restored? Noting the UK-France relations are in a low condition, they still have some shared values and common interest on migrant and climate change issues. The fishing issue can further enter an arbitration panel, but a joint statement or dialogue is the best choice for now. The creation of trust-building is vital for the long-term relationship of the UK and France.
[1] DW, (2021), Inggris dan Prancis Saling Gertak Soal Sengketa Perikanan, https://www.dw.com/id/inggris-dan-prancis-saling-gertak-soal-perikanan/a-57443525
[2] Reality Check Team, (2021), Jersey fishing: What’s the row between UK and France about? https://www.bbc.com/news/57001584
[3] States of Jersey, (2020), UK-EU Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement – Inclusion of the Bailiwick of Jersey, https://statesassembly.gov.je/assemblypropositions/2020/p.170-2020.pdf
[4] John Lichfield, (2021), ANALYSIS: Why the new fishing row between France and UK could get nasty, https://www.thelocal.fr/20211001/analysis-why-the-new-fishing-row-between-france-and-uk-could-get-nasty/
[5] Daniel Boffey, (2021), What is behind the dispute over fishing rights around Jersey?, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/06/what-jersey-fishing-rights-dispute-boris-johnson-patrol-boats
[6] Euronews with AFP, (2021), Paris blasts UK-Jersey decision to refuse fishing licences to scores of French vessels, https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/29/france-and-uk-at-loggerheads-once-again-over-fishing-licenses
[7] David Parsley, (2021), Jersey fishermen vow ‘things will get messy’ if French repeat blockade as fishing war escalates, https://inews.co.uk/news/jersey-fishermen-vow-things-will-get-messy-if-french-repeat-blockade-as-fishing-war-escalates-991121
[8] W. Julian Korab-Karpowicz, (2017), Political Realism in International Relations, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/realism-intl-relations/
[9] Mark Lender and Stephen Castle, (2021), U.K. and France Call in the Navy, Sort of, in Channel Islands Fishing Dispute, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/world/europe/uk-france-jersey-fishing.html
[10] Alan Travis and Heather Stewart, (2018), UK to pay extra £44.5m for Calais security in Anglo-French deal, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/18/uk-to-pay-extra-445m-for-calais-security-in-anglo-french-deal
[11] Euronews with AFP, Op.cit.
[12] Daniel Boffey, (2021), France threatens to cut UK and Jersey energy supply in fishing row, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/05/france-uk-jersey-eu-energy-supply-fishing-row-channel
[13] Michael Rose, (2021), EXCLUSIVE Macron offers UK’s Johnson ‘Le reset’ if he keeps his Brexit word, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-frances-macron-tells-uks-johnson-keep-your-word-brexit-deal-2021-06-12/
