The UK agreed to a 12-year fishing deal with the European Union, leaving EU fishermen gloating.
EU fishermen claim the UK-EU deal is the best outcome for them. (Image: Getty)
Fishermen across the European Union have been boasting about Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s trade deal with the EU. The UK struck a 12-year fishing agreement with the bloc, which allows for fishermen from across the continent to continue their access to UK waters. British fishermen and other political parties have slammed the prime minister for “selling out” the fishing industry after Brexit.
But Olivier Lepretre, the president of the Hauts-de-France regional fisheries committee, told the France3 television channel: “We couldn’t have hoped for better.” Mr Lepretre said they are “very satisfied and relieved” with the UK-EU fishing agreement. He added: “This changes a lot of things. If we no longer had access to British waters, we would have suffered a significant loss of revenue. We had a completely blocked horizon, and this agreement gives us visibility.”
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Sir Keir Starmer hosted a Brexit Summit on Monday. (Image: Getty)
Similarly, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French minister for ecological transition, the sea and fisheries, praised the deal, saying: “This is excellent news for our fishermen,” while Ivan Lopez van der Veen, the vice-chairman of Spain’s Cepesca fishing confederation, said: “This was the best deal we could get.”
He continued: “We had no expectation of increasing our quotas. For the sector, I think it is the best possible outcome. It allows for stability and to reinvigorate the fleet.
“We would have liked it to be a permanent agreement, but 12 years is a good basis for joint management of those waters, as we have always done.
“I cheer for all members that pushed for a deal. We have 27 states, and they are all playing for the EU.”
UK fishermen have accused the prime minister of “selling out” the fishing industry. (Image: Getty)
Originally, the post-Brexit fishing deal allowed the EU a further five years of access to British waters, yet this was due to expire next year. On Monday, Sir Keir held a Brexit summit with EU leaders where this was extended for an additional 12 years.
Critics in the UK have said the agreement is a “surrender” of our waters, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage saying this would be “the end” of the fishing industry.
However, the Prime Minister defended the deal as being good for British fisherman, with the Environment Secretary Steeve Reed claiming that UK fishermen had lost “absolutely nothing”.
