Listening to the escalating row of Jersey / French fishing rights, I was not impressed with either side.
Electricity Threats
On the French side, threats to cut off the Island's electricity supply are not without dangers in setting precedents elsewhere, in particular in relations between Germany and Russia. According to Clean Energy Wire:
"Gas is imported to Germany exclusively by using pipelines. The construction of Gazprom’s contentious Russian-German Baltic Sea pipeline project Nord Stream 2 is underway, but has faced intense opposition from Germany’s European partners and the United States. Sanctions have halted progress for months, but by mid-2020 construction was in the final stretch."
Any precedent for using economic pressures on energy to force Jersey to capitulate run the risk that Russia may also take that as an approval for using economic pressure on any critics who import energy from them. How could the EU respond, given that France had threatened Jersey in that way?
Cutting Links
The closure of the French consulate in Jersey is a ridiculous step too far. It is the French consolate locally who is ideally placed to deal in how the relations between Normandy and Jersey have broken down.
Last year the American consulate left Chengdu after the Chinese government ordered its closure. The other reasons for closing consulates are usually the threat of terrorism, or where a state of war exists between nations.
Closing the French consulate as an act of anger was precipitate and foolish.
Licencing
At first the stories broke that French fishermen were unhappy with conditions imposed on their licences, but today on BBC Radio Jersey it emerged that they could have more expansive licences giving them the same rights they had before.... if their paperwork was in order. Otherwise, they would get a more restrictive licence until such time as the paperwork was complete.
Why is it that the notion of some jobsworth, sitting in an office, waiting passively for the paperwork comes to mind?
Were those involved in processing the applications proactive, and did they contact the French consulate to see if they could improve matters? Did they tell the Minister so he could contact his French counterparts and try and resolve the problem? Did anyone think of doing this, and having a temporary licence after the French authorities were aware of the problem?
If they did, there is a paper or email trail which must give details, and demonstrate that the French authorities were aware of the issues, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Perhaps an FOI can elucidate exactly what correspondence and communication took place?
But I can't help feeling that there is a feeling with some Jersey officials that "it's up to them". If a business operated like that, not being proactive with client's issues, they'd lose business.
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