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Britain and the EU have made “significant progress” in Brexit negotiations on the rights of European fleets to fish in UK waters, two EU sources told Sky News.
They added that there is now a “landing zone” that involves a gradual introduction and also specific quotas for different species.
However, they said this has not been finalized.
A UK government source told Sky News that “there has been no progress in fishing”, adding: “Nothing new has been achieved today.”
Sky’s Europe correspondent Adam Parsons said: “What the EU sources are saying is that fishing is no longer their big concern, they think it can be done.”
“The biggest obstacle to an agreement is the rules of competition on equal terms.
“This is consistent with what we have been reporting throughout the weekend.”
The “level playing field” rules refer to issues such as state aid to businesses.
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Brexit negotiations are ‘in a difficult position’
With time running out before the Brexit transition period ends at the end of the month, UK chief negotiator David Frost has resumed talks with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier in Brussels to try to resolve ” significant differences”.
It came after an hour-long call between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday night.
The two leaders agreed on a final push to reach an agreement.
In a joint statement after their discussion, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Von der Leyen said that while “progress has been made in many areas … significant differences persist on three critical issues: a level playing field, governance and fisheries. “.
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‘Significant differences remain’
British sources later warned that the process could still be concluded without a deal.
A source close to the talks said: “This is the last roll of the dice.”
Secretary of the Environment George Eustice on Sunday he accused the EU of making “ridiculous” demands on future fishing rights.
He said that while the UK was prepared to offer a multi-year deal of up to three years, the EU insisted on access to British waters “in perpetuity.”
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Eustice told Sky News: “The EU has suggested a very modest increase that it would tolerate the UK having fish in its own waters, but given that we now only have half of the fish in our own waters, it just won’t be possible.
“There is also the most important principle that you could not give any long-term guarantees, otherwise you are guaranteed perpetual access to our waters, which is not correct under international law.
“We would be the only country in the world that would agree to that, so such a suggestion is actually quite ridiculous and not consistent with international law.”
