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A Brexit trade deal could be reached as early as today, after the two sides began serious haggling over fishing quotas.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said yesterday that the talks were reaching a “watershed moment”, with the possibility that a deal could be finalized tonight or tomorrow.
In an attempt to break the stalemate, Barnier said Boris Johnson had lowered his demands by asking to recover only 60 percent of the fish that EU vessels currently catch in British waters, up from 80 percent.
A Brexit trade deal could be reached today, as the EU’s top negotiator says Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) had lowered his demands as the two sides haggle over fishing quotas.
Pizza boxes were seen being delivered to the site of the Brexit negotiations in Westminster.
At the same time, the EU has indicated that it will give in to the Prime Minister’s request to negotiate fishing quotas annually in the same way that Brussels does with Norway.
During video conferences with European diplomats and MEPs yesterday, Barnier said there was still no guarantee that a trade deal would be reached.
“I honestly don’t know if we can come to an agreement,” the senior European Commission official told them. “We are fast approaching a watershed moment in the Brexit negotiations. The next hours and days will be decisive. ‘
Downing Street said last night that Johnson remains “optimistic” that Britain can secure a post-Brexit trade deal.
His press secretary, Allegra Stratton, added: “ The talks are ongoing and he has the utmost confidence in [UK chief negotiator] David Frost and the team.
Barnier, pictured, said the Brexit talks had reached a watershed moment this week.
“He’s optimistic, but he’s also always said he’s confident and comfortable that we would be fine without a deal.”
“If an agreement can be reached, it will be good, but he is also confident that we can move towards trade on what he calls Australian terms.”
Miss Stratton said that the possible resumption of trade talks with the EU next year had not been taken into account if they fail to reach an agreement by the end of the current Brexit transition period at the end of the month.
“We have a negotiating team that is working very hard at the moment to reach an agreement and until it is clear that they have it or not, that is not something that anyone in this building is thinking about,” he said.
EU diplomats admitted last night that even if the two sides manage to reach an agreement, it may not be easy, with the possibility that individual member states may still try to block it.
“We need to find a compromise where the UK can say it has won and the EU can say it has not lost,” said a source close to the talks. Disputes over access to British waters have been one of the most significant remaining obstacles in the negotiations in recent weeks.
Today, the Common Fisheries Policy dictates how much British fishermen can fish and where, and fishermen have often complained that they do not get a fair share of what is caught in UK waters.
According to EU sources, Barnier said Downing Street is now asking to recapture 60 percent of the fish currently caught by European vessels compared to 80 percent previously. So far, the EU has offered the repatriation of around 15 to 18 percent of catches.
Fishing accounts for just 0.12% of UK GDP, but is seen as highly symbolic in the Brexit negotiations.
British fishermen argue that their industry was sacrificed to secure the country’s place in the European Economic Community in 1973.
‘Now we can end the export of animals for the slaughterhouse’
By Claire Ellcott, Daily Mail Political Correspondent
The ministers will aim to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening once the Brexit transition period is over.
A change in the law will be sought in the next year or two, the government said, which was previously impossible under EU rules.
It would make Britain the first place in Europe to enact a ban, a cause close to the heart of Boris Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds.
Authorities say around 6,400 animals were transported from the UK to the mainland in 2018 for slaughter.
Many suffer from being transported on excessively long trips.
A consultation on plans to ban the export of cattle and horses for slaughter and fattening, and to improve animal welfare, will last eight weeks.
Proposals include reducing maximum travel times and giving animals more room and headroom during transport.
Ultimately, ministers hope to end the practice entirely in the next session of Parliament, which is expected to take place between 2021 and 2022.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Now that we have left the EU, we have the opportunity to put an end to this unnecessary practice. We want to make sure the animals are not stressed before slaughter. ‘
The measure, which would not apply to poultry or exports for breeding purposes, was welcomed by animal welfare groups.
RSPCA Executive Director Chris Sherwood said: “Ending exports of live animals for slaughter and additional fattening would be a landmark achievement for animal welfare.”
