BREXIT TALKS ON `KNIFE EDGE' DESPITE PROGRESS.
EU ready to compromise on fishing rights
BRUSSELS/ LONDON • The EU backed down Sunday night over post-brexit fishing arrangements, but the chances of a trade deal remained “on a knife edge” with other key issues unresolved.
Sources in Brussels said the talks on fish were “closing in” on a political agreement, but there were warnings that no progress had been made on the far bigger problem of the so-called level playing field, meaning the two sides could still end the talks without a deal as early as tonight.
Boris Johnson was to speak to Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, Monday evening for the second time in 48 hours to decide whether to allow talks to continue or, if there is no prospect of agreement, to walk away for good.
Sunday night Micheal Martin, the Irish prime minister, put the chances of a deal at 50- 50, adding: “Things are on a knife edge.”
The EU had demanded unfettered access to Britain's waters for 10 years in a set of last-minute requests last Thursday. When the two sides resumed negotiations in Brussels yesterday the EU signalled it was ready to compromise on its fishing demands.
Sources close to the talks have suggested Britain, which had already offered a three- year transition period on fishing arrangements, could offer an even longer transition of around five years. In return, the EU would have to hand back at least 50 per cent of its fish quotas from Jan 1, instead of the 18 per cent it is currently offering.
A climbdown over fish would be hugely embarrassing for Emmanuel Macron, the French President, who has been blamed for crashing the talks last week when both sides believed a deal was within reach.
Macron, who will be standing for re-election in 2022, had promised French fishermen he would stand firm, and even sent Jean Castex, his prime minister, to Boulogne last week to board a trawler and promise solidarity with the industry.
One EU diplomat said: “The fish discussions are closing in on a political landing zone (but) discussions are slow. Expectations are low on a solution being found in the next 24 hours.”