Boris Johnson’s Brexit SELL OUT! Barnier gloats to EU – UK wants 60% of fish in own waters - Daily Express

The PM is now asking for a return of up to 60 percent of EU catches in UK waters, down from 80 percent, Mr Barnier is believed to have told ambassadors in a meeting this morning.This would mark a major climb-down on an issue both sides have stubbornly refused to budge on.

 

A senior EU diplomat told the Guardian: “Barnier said the coming hours were going to be decisive to which the response was: ‘what’s the rush?’”

“Ambassadors for every country bordering the UK – 11 all in all – raised concerns on the level playing field and suggested that he was at the edge of his negotiating mandate." 

Mr Barnier is said to be under pressure to pin down a deal over fishing from France and its president Emmanuel Macron.

Another insider said: “We are quickly approaching a make or break moment in the Brexit talks. Intensive negotiations are continuing in in London. As of this morning it is still unclear whether negotiators can bridge the gaps on issues like level playing, governance and fisheries.

“As we are entering the endgame of the Brexit negotiations, some member states are becoming a bit jittery.

"So this was mostly an exercise to calm nerves in Paris and elsewhere and to reassure member states that team Barnier will continue to defend core EU interests including on fisheries.”

READ MORE: Brexit LIVE: EU member states order Barnier to 'slow talks down'

Talks remain snagged on fishing rights in British waters, ensuring fair competition guarantees and ways to solve future disputes.

The prospect of securing a longer-term deal with the Brussels bloc on sharing the fish catch is important for getting a compromise.

But both sides are yet to find common ground on fishing quotas as the clock ticks down.

A senior EU diplomat said: "A deal still hangs in the balance." 

The news comes after  Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster hit out at the EU's demands over fishing. 

He told Sky News: "The EU still wants to take the lion's share of the fishing in our waters - which is just not fair given that we are leaving the EU. 

"The EU still want us to be tied to their way of doing things.

"The EU are at the moment reserving the right, if there is any sort of dispute, not quite to rip everything up but to impose some really penal and tough restrictions on us, and we don't think that's fair."

Last week, Britain demanded EU chiefs bring "fresh thinking" to post-Brexit trade deal talks and concedes on fishing rights after it rejected Michel Barnier’s latest compromise on catch quotas.

Mr Barnier recently said the EU could accept a 15-18 percent cut in its share of fishing rights in UK waters, which was immediately rejected by British officials before it even landed in London.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmV4cHJlc3MuY28udWsvbmV3cy9wb2xpdGljcy8xMzY3Mzk1L0JyZXhpdC1uZXdzLUJvcmlzLUpvaG5zb24tVUstZmlzaGluZy1xdW90YXMtTWljaGVsLUJhcm5pZXItRVUtdGFsa3MtbGF0ZXN00gF-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzcy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3BvbGl0aWNzLzEzNjczOTUvQnJleGl0LW5ld3MtQm9yaXMtSm9obnNvbi1VSy1maXNoaW5nLXF1b3Rhcy1NaWNoZWwtQmFybmllci1FVS10YWxrcy1sYXRlc3QvYW1w?oc=5

2020-12-02 12:56:00Z
52781208577736