Brexit deal so near, yet so far
CONTENTIOUS: ACCESS TO BRITAIN’S FISHERIES
UK stands tough and only offers limited access, quota renegotiations.
British and European negotiators have made progress towards agreeing fair trade rules but are still far apart on access to fishing, European Union (EU) chief Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday.
“The next days are going to be decisive,” the president of the European Commission told the European parliament, as intense talks on a post-Brexit trade deal continued in Brussels.
“The good news is that we have found a way forward on most issues,” she said, adding that she and EU negotiator Michel Barnier can now see a “narrow path to an agreement”.
“But this is now a case of us being so close and yet being so far away from each other, because two issues still remain outstanding, you know them: a level playing field and the fisheries.”
Von der Leyen said Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost had made progress towards resolving rules for state aid to businesses and that the ways the deal will be governed “by now are largely being resolved”.
But she was pessimistic on fish. Britain is insisting that when it leaves the EU single market at the end of the year it will resume full control over access to its waters.
EU member states are holding out to preserve quotas for their crews fishing in UK waters and they want a long-term arrangement to provide stability. Britain has only offered reduced access and annual quota renegotiations.
“On fisheries, the discussion is still very difficult,” she said.
“We do not question the UK sovereignty on its own waters, but we asked for predictability and stability.
“And in all honesty, I sometimes feel that we will not be able to resolve this question.”
The EU’s 27 member countries aim to also start Covid-19 vaccinations on “the same day” in a sign of unity, Von der Leyen said.
Her statement to parliament came as pressure mounted on the bloc to catch up with the US and Britain, which have started inoculating people with a vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech.
“To get to the end of the pandemic, we will need up to 70% of the population vaccinated. This is a huge task, a big task. So let’s start as soon as possible with the vaccination together, as 27, with a start at the same day,” Von der Leyen said. –