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Last week, Johnson’s chief negotiator Lord Frost presented the EU with a three-year adjustment period on fisheries. Despite this major concession from the UK, a fisheries deal remains elusive as the clock ticks towards Brexit negotiations. Talking to Express.co.uk, executive director of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organizations, Barrie Deas argued that the EU does not yet regard the UK as an independent state.
Indeed, Mr Deas claimed that large differences remain between the two sides as EU states such as France desperately try to retain unfettered access to British waters.
He said: “I think we are quite far from an agreement.
“My understanding is that this idea of a three-year adjustment period was something that the UK suggested to the EU, but has not really had a response.
“I think probably much more significant is the scale of the quota adjustment, which is required to reflect the UK’s new status as an independent coastal state.
“That’s where the big gap is, and where countries like France are putting their heels in.”
Last week, the UK agreed to a historic fisheries deal with Norway, its first as an independent coastal nation.
This agreement establishes annual negotiations on access to water and quotas.
Due to the proposal on quotas and access, this illustrates the strange demands put forward by the EU, Deas said.
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“And I think even the EU Commission thinks their demands are strange.”
Despite stating that the EU’s demands are bizarre, Deas concluded that UK officials had stated that British fisheries remain key to their negotiating position.
On Monday, the German chancellor met with EU officials, namely French President Emmanuel Macron, to urge them to drop their demands on fishing.
Merkel was also supported by her Foreign Minister Heiko Mass, who called on EU states to back a Brexit compromise.
States like France want continuous access to British waters similar to what they have obtained under the Common Fisheries Policy.
Because the UK is an independent state, Lord Frost has rejected this claim.
Under their three-year transition proposal, the two parties would use that time to adapt to the new measures, thus giving coastal communities time to adjust.
Fishing quotas would also drop year after year.
Following the latest round of negotiations, Lord Frost said: “In fisheries, the gap between us is unfortunately very large and, without more realism and flexibility from the EU, it runs the risk of being impossible to bridge.
“These issues are fundamental to our future status as an independent country.”
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