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Ryan Scatterty, president of the Scottish Seafood Association, which represents fish processors, said he was “very disappointed” to hear that senior Holyrood figures had asked the UK to back down on their strict demands for fishing rights. The comments by Scottish government officials were made during talks between the SNP government and the bloc, which are separate from the post-Brexit trade talks between Brussels and Whitehall.
Sturgeon and the EU’s top Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, are among those who have participated in the discussions in recent months.
The Scottish government is said to have told the EU that “both sides need to move a bit” on the contentious issue of fishing.
Mr. Scatterty said Express.co.uk He said he was “very disappointed” to hear that Ms Sturgeon had gone behind the back of the UK government “to almost offer fishing rights” to the Scots in exchange for a path for Scotland to rejoin the bloc.
He said he had no doubt that the ministers’ actions are “undermining” the UK’s trade talks with the EU, which continued in Brussels this week.
Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish ministers have been accused of ‘undermining’ the UK in trade talks (Image: GETTY)
Scottish fishermen count on Boris Johnson to ensure fair treatment (Image: GETTY)
He said: “They have made it perfectly clear that the long-term goal of the current Scottish government administration, the SNP party, is that they want to rejoin the European Union.
“Well, simply rejoining the European Union means that we will be negotiating our fishing rights so that there is no advantage.”
Scatterty refuted Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing’s claim that post-Brexit trade talks would not have hit a brick wall over fisheries if Holyrood officials had been able to participate.
While he believes that SNP ministers’ concerns about not reaching a deal for the fishing industry are genuine, he said his actions and words are damaging Britain’s position.
READ MORE: Brexiteer breaks EU argument: Brexit bill ‘will NOT break the law’
Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said Holyrood officials should be involved in trade negotiations (Image: GETTY)
Scatterty said she was concerned that “the intervention they seem to be doing is not helping us get a deal for everyone.”
He added: “Foreign affairs and trade agreements are a reserved matter, not a transferred matter.
“The Scottish government and the SNP ministers in particular have made no secret of their wish that Scotland, if we want to gain independence, rejoin the European Union.
“By doing that, they are simply going to negotiate fishing rights or any potential benefits we get from Brexit.
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Nicola Sturgeon has been involved in talks with the EU, apart from trade negotiations. (Image: GETTY)
Scotland’s fishermen are preparing for the end of the Brexit transition period (Image: GETTY)
“Clearly, one of the benefits for the UK leaving the European Union would be to regain control of our fishing rights.”
Informal talks between Barnier and the UK’s top Brexit negotiator David Frost continued in Brussels this week before the ninth round of negotiations begins on September 28.
On Wednesday, the head of the European Commission warned that the chances of reaching a trade deal with Britain were fading by the day.
Ursula von der Leyen said: “With each passing day, the chances of a timely agreement begin to fade.”
The EU countries that depend the most on the UK for fishing (Image: EXPRESS)
The EU has asked the UK to withdraw the Internal Market Act, which seeks to void parts of the Withdrawal Agreement.
Boris Johnson has refused to give in to EU demands and is going ahead with the bill that the government has admitted will violate international law.
A spokesman for Scotland’s Secretary of the Constitution, Michael Russell, blamed the Conservatives for “selling out” the UK’s fishing interests when former Prime Minister Ted Heath signed the treaty of accession to the European Economic Community, which came into force in 1973.
And they said the Conservatives were once again willing to sell the fishing rights of British fishermen.
Trade talks between the UK and the EU have so far failed to bear fruit (Image: GETTY)
The spokesperson said Express.co.uk: “Either the UK government breaks its promises regarding access to fishing waters, or it forces a situation where devastating tariffs and other export barriers will be imposed on our seafood sector .
“With the Conservatives threatening to ruin all prospects for a deal with the EU by openly declaring their intention to violate international law, it is colossal hypocrisy for them to accuse anyone else of undermining the negotiating process.
“The UK government has ignored the wishes of the people of Scotland, who overwhelmingly want to stay in the EU, throughout this process and everyone knows that the responsibility for the current mess lies with the tough Brexiters who are they have taken over the Conservative Party. “
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