The president of the EU Fisheries Alliance, Gerard van Balsfoort, welcomed progress on the UK's orderly withdrawal agreement from the EU on Thursday 15 November, but hopes that this constructive spirit will be continue in upcoming negotiations on future arrangements (see other news).
The Brexit pre-agreement confirms that, until there is a trade agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom, fisheries will remain excluded from the scope of the customs union (see EUROPE 12125). The United Kingdom will regain control of its waters after Brexit and a fisheries agreement and quotas for each fish species will have to be negotiated by July 2020. The withdrawal agreement makes no mention of these future fisheries relations, except for provisions on the transitional period until the end of 2020.
When interviewed by EUROPE, the President of the EU Fisheries Alliance welcomed the progress made so far as "a significant first step towards the future of our relations with this important neighbouring country". He hopes that this constructive spirit between Michel Barnier and Theresa May's cabinet will be maintained during the next phase of negotiations on future relations.
Fisheries is also mentioned in the political declaration, which is important to him, as is the fact that negotiations on waters and resource access will take place in the context of negotiations on future economic relations between the EU and the United Kingdom. This country will once again become an independent coastal state and the political declaration stresses the need to reach an agreement before July 2020.
Transitional period. According to the Commission, the transitional period granted for fisheries "provides clarity and predictability to interested parties, including international partners", as it extends the applicability of the Common Fisheries Policy (and relevant international agreements) to the United Kingdom throughout this transitional period. The United Kingdom is bound by the decisions on fishing quotas until the end of the transitional period. It will be consulted at different stages of the annual decision-making process regarding its fishing opportunities. At the Union's invitation, the United Kingdom may participate in international consultations and negotiations with a view to preparing for its future accession to the relevant international bodies.
Alain Cadec (MEP France), Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries, met Michel Barnier in Strasbourg on Thursday to discuss the impact of Brexit on the Common Fisheries Policy. “I once again told him of the concerns of the fishermen. He confirmed that he was very concerned, particularly with regard to access to water,"said Alain Cadec. Indeed, fishermen in eight EU countries are highly dependent on fishing opportunities in British waters. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)