British negotiators have won the victory over fishing rights as Michel Barnier has backed down as he will now water down the EU’s demand over control of British waters.
The EU’s chief negotiator has broken the deadlock which could see both sides finally reaching a trade deal in the coming days.
Barnier said that he is now ready to discuss the next steps of the exact number of fish both sides can catch once a Brexit deal is struck.
Sources close to the Brexit talks said that this compromise will help Johnson to guarantee a “huge increase of catch” for British fishermen and women this year.
EU chiefs have been warned that their fishermen will now see their access to British waters limited.
However, Downing Street has offered a three-year transition which will enable European fishermen a transition period.
A framework agreement will be agreed by both the EU and the UK before the transition period ends on 31 December, and the post-Brexit quota will not start until the end of 2023, which will see UK quota’s double.
A UK government spokesman said, “Our position on fisheries has been clear from the start. We will only be able to make progress if the EU accepts the reality that the UK will have the right to control access to its waters at the end of this year.
“We are asking for a simple, separate fisheries framework agreement which reflects our rights under international law and which provides for annual negotiations over access and sharing opportunities on the scientific principle of zonal attachment.
“This is squarely in line with the existing precedent of the EU’s current fisheries agreement with Norway.”
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