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“So we get a no-deal Brexit because of the fish”
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The European Union and the United Kingdom are making one “last effort” to conclude a post-Brexit trade deal.
Quelle: dpa / Virginia Mayo
In their negotiations on a Brexit trade pact, the UK and the EU remain clearly separated. Fishing especially is a sticking point. Diplomats show increasing frustration.
men negotiations between the EU and the UK on a post-Brexit trade deal, there is still no rapprochement in the dispute over the fishing rights of EU fishers in UK waters. On the fisheries issue, negotiations stalled even after another round of negotiations in Brussels, an EU diplomat said Saturday night. There are still “the same differences of opinion,” said another diplomat.
According to diplomats, the EU has now made a final offer on the fisheries issue to Britain. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will ultimately have to decide on this. If Britain rejects the offer, “we will not get a deal on the fish,” said a diplomat.
Michel Barnier, EU Chief Negotiator: It’s getting tough
Those: AP / Francisco Seco
Britain left the EU on February 1, but the country will remain in the EU internal market and in the customs union until the end of the year. Meanwhile, the time for the timely ratification of a trade agreement planned for the subsequent period is extremely short. Without an agreement, customs duties would be collected in mutual trade by the end of the year, with serious consequences for the economy.
The main points of contention for months have been fair competition, control of a future deal and access to British waters for EU fishermen. While significant progress had recently been made in the first two hotspots, the issue of fisheries remained difficult.
Without an agreement, EU fishermen would no longer be able to cast their nets in UK waters. Meanwhile, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has offered that EU fishermen give up almost a quarter of the value of their catch in British waters. The UK is reportedly demanding that EU fishermen give up more than half.
The European Fisheries Alliance (CFCA) has already reacted with alarm. With its offer, the EU “would sound the death sentence for parts of the economic sector that mean so much to the coastal communities of Europe.”
Negotiations will resume on Sunday, but there is not much time for a breakthrough. The EU Parliament gave both parties until midnight Sunday to come up with an agreement. Otherwise, from Parliament’s point of view, there will not be enough time to examine the text and ratify it for it to enter into force on 1 January.
