
BRITISH negotiators fear Michel Barnier has lost control of post-Brexit fishing talks to hardline EU states hell-bent on keeping control of Britain’s fishing waters.
The UK’s chief trade negotiator with the European Union has warned the Prime Minister that the Brussels bureaucrat was blocked from watering down the bloc’s demands for unchanged access to the fishing grounds. David Frost advised Boris Johnson that Mr Barnier is keen to climb down from the EU’s unrealistic position and progress was being made towards a compromise. But the talks hit the wall after the Frenchman was ordered not to buckle by angry fisheries ministers, killing any chance of a breakthrough.
Mr Frost had hoped to launch detailed negotiations over future fishing quotas during last week’s fourth round of trade talks.
Mr Barnier was stopped from discussing potential numbers and percentages for catches by European capitals fearful of a capitulation.
The Brussels negotiator was unable to go into detail because of opposition from the bloc’s fishing countries led by France.
British sources said the interference had “skewed things late in the process” and meant talks remain deadlocked.
[…]
See Also:
(1) They NEVER wanted a deal! Hannan lets rip at EU over plot for ‘subservient’ UK
(2) Brexit bombshell: Farmer union tells of ‘huge opportunity’ for UK which EU court ‘banned’
(3) France faces eye-watering £9billion bill with desperate bid to repair aerospace industry
(4) Boris Johnson warns Black Lives Matters protests are ‘subverted by thuggery’
(5) China snub: Vietnam strikes free trade deal with EU in warning shot to China