READ MORE: Michel Barnier wants to withdraw from the Brexit bluff on fishing requirements: “We are working on the same net, but there is no agreement on what should be in the network and we could still supplant the net.” The UK has spoken out in favour of an annual quota agreement with the EU – which was rejected by Brussels – as in its recent agreement with Norway. But Britain`s chief negotiator, Lord Frost, said Britain was now ready to compromise on its request and proposed multi-year agreements. The UK insists on annual discussions on fishing rights that the EU has so far opposed. Other independent coastal states, such as Norway, do just that. And the British fishing communities, which strongly support the campaign to leave the EU, are insisting on this fundamental change. Exclusively: three-year transition period for European fishing fleets among the proposals contained in the negotiating document Such regional factors may complicate the possibility of a compromise. At the same time, EU countries that do not have access to fisheries should agree on the importance of the issue. Irish fishing organisations have also expressed concern that limited access to UK waters could lead EU vessels to enter their territory and threaten endangered stocks in ecologically sensitive areas. “We want to reach an agreement on this basis, which will allow a fresh start to our relations with the EU, which we have always wanted.” Given that both the EU and the UK are seeking their positions and the UK is still threatening to leave the talks completely if an agreement is not reached at the summit, the stage is set for a showdown in Brussels. It aims to reduce european vessels` access to British waters while increasing the proportion of quotas for British vessels. However, an important factor is that the European Union is by far the main export market for British fisheries trade. Two weeks of talks, france opposing the UK`s offer to replace fishing quotas, which London says unfairly favours EU fleets.
The offer of a transitional period comes from the fact that the United Kingdom has signed its first independent fishing agreement in 40 years. The deal with Norway involves annual negotiations on the share of catches, which the EU refused during the Brexit trade negotiations. “An agreement must respect our terms, whether it is fishing, competitive conditions or governance. If not, there will be no agreement,” French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune le Monde said in an interview for Thursday`s issue. “We still have a long way to go, but if the other issues can be resolved, it does not appear that fisheries stand in the way of an agreement,” said a senior EU diplomat. “The EU wants the status quo, the UK wants to change everything,” he said on 5 June. “If we want an agreement, we have to discuss these positions somewhere.” British fishing fleets feel uncomfortable with the EU rules they have followed for more than 40 years. The two sides also have differing views on the future method of calculating quotas. The question is who has the right to capture what and in what waters when the transitional Brexit period ends on 31 December. Member States` boats end up about eight times as many fish in British waters as British fishing crews in EU waters, but the UK depends on the European export market.
It is an industry that makes only a small contribution to the entire economy in the UK and the EU. And yet, from the beginning, fisheries have launched a vast net on Brexit trade negotiations. Mr Raab said that if fishing remained the main obstacle, he could see “a landing zone” for an agreement on competition rules and state aid – the other important sensitive point – if the EU were as “reasonable” as the UK.