POST-BREXIT FISHING ACCESS

MEPS ARGUE THAT EUROPEAN FISHERMEN SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO UK WATERS, IRRESPECTIVE OF A BREXIT DEAL

Against the backdrop of continuing Brexit talks, MEPs said that there should be reciprocal access to fishing waters and voiced concern about having enough time to scrutinise any deal. During a debate on fisheries and Brexit in Parliament’s fisheries committee, Dutch EPP member Peter van Dalen said it would be “disastrous” if European fishermen no longer have access to British waters. He said, “The Brits seem to still want to have the right to sell fish in the internal market but are arguing that European fishermen are prevented from fishing in UK waters, something that has been done for centuries. To do otherwise would be a disaster. If a deal is done I understand the text could run to 1,800 pages and I want to have time to read that. Boris Johnson is clearly under huge pressure in the UK and wants to keep access to the single market, but I hope the Brits will use their common sense and reach an agreement that will also be good for our fisheries sector.”

Irish Greens member Grace O’Sullivan told the meeting, “Time is passing quickly and fisheries seems to be the really contentious issue but the UK must recognise the dilemma it is putting the EU in. We need time to assess any deal and this committee needs time for due diligence to scrutinise any document. Time is crucial and we must make this clear to the other committees. There is also the impact of Brexit on the marine environment to consider and, again, we need time to scrutinise this.” Spanish Socialist Nicolás González Casares said, “Fisheries is vital in any Brexit deal. We cannot remain silent on this. We must have an unlimited access agreement. This is important for the fisheries sector in Europe. The UK will have difficulty managing fisheries unless it does so with the EU.”

The committee’s rapporteur on Brexit, French EPP member FrançoisXavier Bellamy, said, “I know this is one of the most sensitive topics, but it is vital for fisheries to remain at the heart of the talks and there is no way to leave fisheries by the wayside. That would be very dangerous and cause huge problems for our fishermen. We also need time to scrutinise any deal and not vote on it quickly until we have given our view on it.”