The Chair of the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee, Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, France), visiting Ostend (Belgium) on Friday 28 February, said that the future fisheries agreement with the UK should be "as close as possible to the status quo".
"It is in everyone's interest to reach a fisheries agreement that guarantees access to waters and markets under the current conditions", the MEP reiterated (see EUROPE 12418/7).
The EU is far from having won the day on this issue, which has all the elements to become explosive.
The EU wants to "maintain reciprocal access" to the territorial waters of both parties and make the conclusion of a trade partnership conditional on a fisheries agreement.
Insisting on their aim to become an “independent coastal state” again by the end of 2020, the British intend to negotiate annually with the EU on quotas and access to waters (EUROPE 12435/3).
Mr Karleskind visited Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, last week. He will soon travel to the Netherlands and then to Ireland. "I want to show fishermen that Europe is looking after them and that they will not be left out of these negotiations", he said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)