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Fishing rights remain a “big bone of contention” in post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union, but there is a deal to be made, the British foreign secretary said.
Dominic Raab said this could be the last week of “substantive” negotiations and urged Brussels to recognize the “point of principle” on British control of its waters.
He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I think we are in a reasonable position, there is a deal to be done.
“If you really look at the outstanding issues, of course, a level playing field, but there seems to be progress towards more respect for the UK’s position.
“When it comes to fisheries, there is a point of principle: when we leave the EU, we will be an independent coastal state … and we have to be able to control our waters.”
Raab said the UK acknowledged the impact on other countries but said: “I think the answer is’ can the EU accept that point of principle that comes with our departure from the political club?”
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier was in London this weekend to speak with his British counterpart David Frost, but Downing Street said there was a lot to do at the last minute.
Brexit: disruption of the food chain and death of the land bridge
It is understood that progress has been made in many areas, but significant gaps remain in the EU’s access to UK fishing waters when the transition period ends on December 31.
Reports last week suggested Barnier recently said the EU could accept a 15-18% cut in its share of fishing rights in UK waters, but British officials were said to immediately reject the offer.
A UK government source said: “These figures are laughable, and the EU knows very well that we would never accept it.”
“It appears that the Commission has failed to internalize the scale of change necessary to become an independent nation.”
Britain has repeatedly said that it is prepared to leave the transition period without a deal if the EU does not move, and talks have been stalled for months on fishing rights and other issues.
They include the governance of any agreement and “level playing field” conditions designed to prevent unfair competition by cutting standards or increasing state subsidies.
Irish MEP Seán Kelly has warned that the Irish agri-food sector “will be the hardest hit by the UK’s exit from the EU” and “should be at the front of the queue when the European Brexit compensation fund is allocated.”
“The sector is particularly vulnerable to the impact of Brexit, as the UK and Ireland are the largest export markets for food and agricultural products, with the UK accounting for almost 40%, or € 5.5 billion, of exports Irish agri-food “. “he said in a statement.
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