Britain’s fisheries give vital leverage in EU talks

SIR – European Union access to the United Kingdom’s fisheries remains the key stumbling block to a trade deal. It has been reported (October 11) that Britain could offer a three-year transition period for European fishing fleets to “phase down” their catches, or that a longer-term deal could otherwise be countenanced.

Any such long-term arrangement, transitional or not, would represent a major concession on an issue where the UK retains significant leverage.

This is not about patriotic symbolism; it is about the fact that fishing matters a great deal to many EU coastal nations and Britain can extract a high price for any concessions.

By the same token, the financial services sector is of key strategic importance to the UK and has been our most important export to the EU. Yet the EU has made no compromise to smooth the way for Britain’s financial services. On the contrary, all the signs are that the EU Commission will create an inhospitable environment for the

City of London. Currently, the most the City can hope for is a recognition of “equivalence” in relation to a limited range of financial services that could be withdrawn on a month’s notice.

The UK must retain the leverage fishing stocks give us. Even if we can’t extract a price for concessions related to establishing some form of stable access to the EU for UK financial services now, we may need to use this leverage in the future. For this reason, reviews of access to UK fishing waters must be made on an annual basis.

B T Mcdonnell

London N1

SIR – Let us be clear. When Michel Barnier says insufficient progress has been made on fisheries, what he means is that the British have not given in yet.

When will the Commission and the French realise that they do not own the territorial waters around the UK and we do not need to ask for them back?

N P Scott

Reigate, Surrey