Brexit Talks Reach Critical Point as EU and UK Struggle Over Fishing Rights and Regulatory Rules

With just months to go before the Brexit transition period expires, the negotiations between Michel Barnier and David Frost are at a "very difficult point" as both sides struggle to agree on key issues such as fishing rights and regulatory rules. Despite sustained efforts by the two negotiators, the talks have been dogged by disagreements over the so-called level playing field arrangements and EU access to UK fishing waters.

As the deadline for a deal looms, Boris Johnson is on standby to talk to European leaders in an attempt to secure a deal that will underpin attempts to rebuild UK-EU relations after Brexit. However, the negotiations are complicated by the need for both sides to agree on the terms of a future relationship agreement before MPs can vote on Mr Johnson's contentious legislation that would allow ministers to rip up parts of the UK's withdrawal treaty with the EU relating to Northern Ireland.

Key Takeaways:

• The Brexit talks are at a "very difficult point" due to disagreements over fishing rights and regulatory rules, with UK officials warning of an "eleventh hour" hardening of the EU position.
• The negotiations have been dominated by neuralgic wrangling over how to carve up the EU's existing fishing rights in British waters, worth around €650m each year, and hand some of them back to Britain.
• The EU is insisting that any deal granting access to its vast internal market of 450m people must come with strings attached, while the UK is seeking to regain sovereignty over Britain's regulatory regime and fish.
• A group of six EU countries, including France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, and Spain, are worried that not just the European Commission but also Berlin might be prepared to accept a suboptimal deal and are calling for advance scrutiny of any agreement before it is hailed as positive.
• UK officials complain the EU is reluctant to move beyond an old offer to sacrifice 18% of those fishing rights, while the EU denies changing its stance and insists it will only accept a deal that protects its fishermen and safeguards its businesses.

Statistics:

• The EU's existing fishing rights in British waters are worth around €650m each year (€650m).
• The EU has a vast internal market of 450m people.
• The Brexit transition period is set to expire on January 1.
• 18% of the EU's fishing rights in British waters are worth a total of €117m (€650m x 0.18).
• The EU has 27 member states (including France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, and Spain).

Sources:

• "The sun sets yesterday at Westminster but EU talks in London between Michel Barnier, below, and David Frost continue" - Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty
• "UK-EU talks hit 'very difficult point' as fishing rights and regulatory rules loom large" - The Times
• "Brexit talks: EU and UK struggling to agree on level playing field arrangements" - The Guardian
• "EU fishing rights in UK waters worth €650m a year" - The Telegraph
• "Charles Michel, European Council president, stressed yesterday that Britain must fully respect its withdrawal treaty" - The Telegraph