Fishing row rages on as Johnson urges EU to seal Brexit deal
MEPs set new deadline of this Sunday for agreeing future trade treaty
![A prawn trawler lands a catch on Loch Long.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Eprt7ZnCRmVD5epM6gicUo-415-80.jpg)
Boris Johnson has told the EU that a Brexit trade deal could be agreed this weekend provided the bloc changes its position on the two key outstanding issues.
Speaking to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by phone yesterday evening, the prime minister insisted that “a deal can be done if Brussels gives ground on fish and state subsidies”, The Telegraph reports.
MEPs have set a new deadline of this Sunday for agreeing a future trade treaty. But Johnson warned von der Leyen that the long-discussed deal was in danger of “drifting away from us” unless the EU “substantially” changes its position over fishing quotas.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The talks were in a “serious situation”, he added.
The EU chief reportedly agreed that sealing a deal would be “very challenging”. Sources in the European Parliament struck a more optimistic tone, however, telling the paper that the two sides were “close to an agreement”.
All the same, Von der Leyen’s warning “makes clear that fishing is now the biggest obstacle to a deal”, writes The Spectator’s political editor James Forsyth.
Sources say “Brussels wants eight years’ unfettered access to British waters from 1 January, with little more than 20% of its quotas handed back to begin with”, according to The Telegraph.
The UK, meanwhile, has offered a three-year transitional period, conditional on the EU handing back at least half of its quotas now.
Commentators have pointed out that fishing accounts for only a tiny percentage of Britain’s economy. Indeed, luxury department store Harrods “is worth more to the UK economy than fishing”, tweets the Financial Times’ economics editor Chris Giles.
But “in some ways fishing - despite its small economic significance - has become the emblem of Brexit for supporters of the vote to leave”, says The Times.
The EU Common Fisheries Policy “has long been a source of discontentment” in the UK, the newspaper continues.
As they stand, quotas for fishing “are based largely on how member states fished in the 1970s, and this means that, despite a long, well-stocked coastline, the UK has a poor share of the total allowable catch”.
By contrast, the EU does well out of the arrangement, with European fishing vessels hauling in “over 70% of the allowable catch in British waters”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Red Speedo: a 'darkly comic' doping drama
The Week Recommends Lucas Hnath's play stars Finn Cole as a 'reptilian' swimmer determined to win at all costs
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One Aldwych: where London's creative spirit takes centre stage
The Week Recommends This five-star Covent Garden hotel is the epitome of elegant independence
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Always played the game with enthusiasm'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why Emmanuel Macron has called snap elections
Speed Read President surprises France with vote after Marine Le Pen's EU victory
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Europe ready to come to its own defense?
Today's Big Question 'There is a risk our Europe could die'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Xi comes to Europe: what's on the agenda?
The Explainer China's president visiting for first time since 2019, with spotlight on support for Russia over Ukraine and trade tensions with EU
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published