Barnier hints at EU fishing agreement

Michel Barnier, the EU’S chief Brexit negotiator, has said that the trading bloc may agree to the UK’S key demand for a deal on fishing. Mr Barnier said the EU accepted that a deal based on dividing fishing opportunities using a scientific method reflecting the number of fish in UK waters, rather than the Common Fisheries Policy, was possible. Speaking to a House of Lords committee, he admitted the EU’S position was “clearly not” balanced.

THE European Union is willing to accept UK demands that post-brexit fishing opportunities be divided using a method that reflects the number of fish in UK waters, rather than the EU’S Common Fisheries Policy.

Michel Barnier said Brussels could agree to the use of zonal attachment, a key British request in ongoing trade negotiations, if it was coupled with other factors such as the economic impact on coastal communities. Zonal attachment will benefit UK fisherman because more fish have moved to British waters as a result of climate change since Common Fisheries Policy catch shares were set decades ago.

The EU has previously insisted EU boats should have the same access to UK waters as now and under the same conditions. Mr Barnier admitted that the EU’S position on fishing was “clearly not” balanced, when he gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee about the post-brexit trade talks.

The EU’S chief negotiator said Brussels was willing to be “creative” to break the deadlock according to a transcript of the June 23 meeting, which was published today. He said: “I am waiting with much patience for a reply from the British side. If there is no response, there will be no agreement on fisheries and no agreement on trade.”

While he ruled out the Norway-style annual talks on fishing opportunities that Britain wants, he suggested some yearly negotiations could be possible.

“You can discuss fishing stocks regularly every year in the light of the scientific advice, so that we can protect resources and biodiversity, but negotiating access to waters and the fish in those waters every year would be impossible for 100-odd species,” he said.

“There will be no trade agreement if there is no balanced agreement on fisheries. Is this balanced agreement the British position as it is? Certainly not. Is it the European position as it is today? Clearly not,” Mr Barnier said.

Mr Barnier said he offered UK negotiators a compromise that “would take account of the zonal attachment that the UK wants”. He added: “We must take account of that, but of other parameters as well: historic fishing rights; the economic interests of coastal fishing communities in the EU and the UK; and international rules from the UN on biodiversity.”

Mr Barnier was speaking before the last round of talks in Brussels broke up a day early with what he described as “serious divergences” between the sides. Talks resumed in London yesterday.