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Leaked EU fishing rights statement heaps pressure on May Leaked EU fishing rights statement heaps pressure on May
(35 minutes later)
The EU is to pile further pressure on Theresa May at this weekend’s Brexit summit by declaring that the post-Brexit negotiations over fishing rights in UK waters will build on the current arrangements hated by the British fishing industry. The EU will pile further pressure on Theresa May at this weekend’s Brexit summit by declaring that the post-Brexit negotiations over fishing rights in UK waters will build on the current arrangements hated by the British fishing industry.
A leaked EU statement, due to be published on Sunday, the day of the summit, says that it expects such a deal to be agreed by July 2020, and that it must protect the current rights of European fishing fleet to exploit British seas. A leaked EU statement, due to be published on Sunday, the day of the summit, says it expects such a deal to be agreed by July 2020, and that it must protect the current rights of European fishing fleets to exploit British waters.
It goes on to warn that a failure by the British government to come to an agreement could jeopardise any hope of the UK extending the transition period from 21 months. It goes on to warn that a failure by the British government to come to an agreement could jeopardise any hope of extending the transition period.
Such an extension is likely to be needed by the British government to allow the comprehensive trade talks to develop, and to avoid the kicking in of the backstop arrangements for Northern Ireland, in which a regulatory border would be drawn between it and the rest of the UK. Such an extension is likely to be needed by the British government to allow comprehensive trade talks to develop, and to avoid the backstop arrangements for Northern Ireland kicking in, which would see a regulatory border drawn between it and the rest of the UK.
The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is deeply unpopular with the UK fishing industry, which wants the UK to be negotiating access and quota rights as an independent coastal state by the end of 2020. The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is deeply unpopular with the UK fishing industry, which wants Britain to be negotiating access and quota rights as an independent coastal state by the end of 2020.
The Conservative party’s 13 Scottish MPs – including the Scottish secretary, David Mundell – warned the prime minister last week that anything less than this would be a “betrayal of Scotland”.The Conservative party’s 13 Scottish MPs – including the Scottish secretary, David Mundell – warned the prime minister last week that anything less than this would be a “betrayal of Scotland”.
According to recent estimates, 33% of the catches of the rest of the European fishing fleet are caught in the UK’s exclusive economic zone.According to recent estimates, 33% of the catches of the rest of the European fishing fleet are caught in the UK’s exclusive economic zone.
The prime minister has insisted the “the fisheries agreement is not something we will be trading off against any other priorities”.The prime minister has insisted the “the fisheries agreement is not something we will be trading off against any other priorities”.
But the 26-page political declaration published on Thursday did make a link between European access to British waters and the terms of a wider economic deal to the UK. But the 26-page political declaration published on Thursday did make a link between European access to British waters and the terms of a wider economic deal.
The leaked statement, to be issued by the 27 heads of state and government, goes even further in undermining Theresa May’s claim. The leaked EU statement, to be issued by the 27 heads of state and government, goes even further in undermining Theresa May’s claim.
The document, which also asserts the EU’s intention to keep the UK dynamically aligned to its environment policies, including its climate change targets under the Paris 2030 agreement, says the EU “will demonstrate particular vigilance on the necessity to maintain ambitious level playing field conditions and to protect fishing enterprises and their communities”. The document, which also asserts the EU’s intention to keep the UK “dynamically aligned” to its environment policies, including its climate change targets under the Paris 2030 agreement, says the EU “will demonstrate particular vigilance on the necessity to maintain ambitious level playing field conditions and to protect fishing enterprises and their communities”.
The statement says: “As recalled in the withdrawal agreement, a fisheries agreement is a matter of priority and should build on, inter alia, existing reciprocal access and quota shares. The statement says: “As recalled in the withdrawal agreement, a fisheries agreement is a matter of priority and should build on, inter alia, existing reciprocal access and quota shares. Such an agreement will be negotiated before the end of the transition period.
“Such an agreement will be negotiated before the end of the transition period.
“When the union position to be taken in the joint committee relates to the extension of the transition period and the review of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the council will act in accordance with the European guidelines.“When the union position to be taken in the joint committee relates to the extension of the transition period and the review of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the council will act in accordance with the European guidelines.
“Any decision on the extension of the transition of the transition period will take into account the fulfilment of obligations by the United Kingdom under the agreement, including its protocols.” “Any decision on the extension of the transition period will take into account the fulfilment of obligations by the United Kingdom under the agreement, including its protocols.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said that the inclusion of such language in the political declaration had been explicitly rejected and there is no commitment maintaining existing access. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said that the inclusion of such language in the political declaration had been explicitly rejected and there was no commitment to maintaining existing access.
However, the EU’s stated intention will bind its negotiators during the talks in the transition period, and the threat to block an extension of the transition period will heighten the political temperature around the issue.However, the EU’s stated intention will bind its negotiators during the talks in the transition period, and the threat to block an extension of the transition period will heighten the political temperature around the issue.
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