How will the latest quarantine measures affect relations with France?

Following on from heated discussions about how to deal with refugees and migrants crossing to the UK, Andrew Grice says it is a delicate time for cross-Channel diplomacy

En garde: Boris Johnson hosted a (socially distanced) visit from Emmanuel Macron in June (AFP)

The anger in the French government about the UK’s decision to add France to its quarantine list does not only stem from the damage it will inflict on the country’s tourism industry as it tries to recover from the coronavirus effect.

On 10 May, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, thought he had secured an opt-out from Boris Johnson when the two leaders discussed the UK’s plans to bring in 14-day quarantine for people arriving in the UK. A joint statement after their phone call said: “No quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage; any measures on either side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner.”

Five days later, Britain made clear it might not keep its side of the bargain, to understandable consternation in Paris. It appears that officials advised ministers that travellers from other countries could get round the quarantine rules by returning to the UK via France.

Including the word “reciprocal” in the statement might now come back to bite Mr Johnson. It would give President Macron cover to retaliate by imposing 14-day quarantine for Britons arriving in France, even if that would compound the economic hit by resulting in even fewer UK visitors in an already poor summer holiday season. There is frustration that French regions which have not seen a spike a Covid-19 cases have been caught by the UK’s blanket ban.

The signs are that France will respond in kind. Indeed, it did retaliate when the UK’s quarantine measures took effect on 8 June, showing its displeasure by criticising those countries who acted “in an uncoordinated fashion”. Later France was added to the UK’s safe country list, a status now withdrawn.

Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais, described the latest quarantine decision as “an additional measure in terms of aggression”. Previously, she accused the UK of making “declaration of maritime war” after Priti Patel, the home secretary, raised the prospect of the royal navy pushing back refugees and migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small boats.

UK ministers have toned down their criticism of France’s alleged inaction on the issue; the French authorities have stopped 1,000 such refugees and migrants this year. Ministers now recognise the need for a bilateral agreement with Paris, but want firm guarantees the crossings will stop before handing over the £30m demanded by the French.

Despite the tensions, Mr Johnson had a positive meeting with President Macron in London in June. The prime minister sees him as a natural post-Brexit ally on issues such as defence, and might well need his cooperation as talks on a UK-EU trade deal reach crunch point this autumn.

The UK’s hardline stance on quarantine will not help Mr Johnson on such matters.