THE European Union's chief Brexit negotiator,
Michel Barnier, warned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he would have
to accept limits on access to the single market in return for greater control
over fishing, reports Bloomberg.
"If
the UK wants to cut access to these waters for European fishermen, at any given
time, then the EU also has to maintain its sovereign right to react or to
compensate by adjusting the conditions for products, and notably fisheries
products, to the single market," said Mr Barnier.
Although
the fishing industry only makes up 0.1 per cent of UK GDP, Johnson's government
sees it as a symbol of national sovereignty.
The
EU hopes the UK will grant European boats better access to its waters in return
for doing business with the bloc in other areas.
"We're
at the moment of truth. We have very few hours left if we want an
agreement," said Mr Barnier.
Meanwhile,
Prime Minister Johnson feels the EU's position on fisheries isn't
reasonable and that if there plans to be an agreement, it needs to change
significantly.
"The
UK could not accept a situation where it was the only sovereign country in the
world not to be able to control access to its own waters for an extended
period," said Mr Johnson.
Source
: HKSG / Illustration : 2BM.
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