Debris of the British Empire

For 100 years Britain had been described as “the empire on which the sun never sets”. Britain was a powerful colonial power owning numerous colonies around the world. Today the word “colony” is no longer used in its original meaning, but the British Queen continues to perform her sovereign role, and the British government continues to influence its colonial states’ domestic and foreign policies.

On May Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson ordered to send two Royal Navy ships – HMS Severn and HMS Tamar – to Jersey Island (is a British Crown Dependency and is not part of the United Kingdom) in the English Channel amid an escalating row between Britain and France over fishing rights in the Channel Islands. Boris Johnson said that vessels would “remain in place to monitor the situation as a precautionary measure” as French fishermen protests over their post-Brexit rights. The French government in its turn also sent two vessels to Jersey to support its fishing ships after French fishermen threatened to blockade the port of St Helier (Jersey Island).

On the same day, European Commission spokesperson Vivian Loonela said that the conditions imposed on licenses for French fishing vessels in Jersey territorial waters breach the terms of the EU/UK trade deal. Under the terms of the deal agreed by Boris Johnson, any new conditions limiting EU fishing activities in UK water must be based on a clear scientific rationale, be non-discriminatory between the UK and European boats and be notified in advance.

Although Jersey has its own authorities, the issue was addressed by the Normandy Regional Fisheries Committee and Boris Johnson. But it was Jersey whom the French government threatened with power cuts. Jersey receives 95​% of its electricity from France through three undersea cables. Besides, Jersey suffers from new post-Brexit restrictions on seafood export to France, that amounts half of the export income. And now one hundred thousand people in Jersey worry about the possible rivalry between two European states.

Today a “Crown colony” term is pretty convenient for the UK. London delegated its responsibility to resolve the territorial waters issue, and according to the British Constitution, the UK government remains responsible for the island’s international relations. However, in reality, Jersey authorities are unable to make independent decisions to ensure economic stability, because the foreign policy interests of its Sovereign state come first.

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