The EU is set to demand access to British fishing waters in return for closer ties to the UK as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s relations “reset”.
Last week’s European Political Community (EPC) summit at Blenheim Palace saw the PM welcome leaders from across the continent to Winston Churchill’s birthplace as he sought to realign Britain’s relationship with the bloc – with immigration and defence leading the agenda.
But though Starmer may be eyeing up a tightening in trade ties, the EU is understood to be preparing an arsenal of “offensive interests” to bring to any future negotiating tables.
Key among said interests will be fishing rights in UK waters – with France likely to push for an extension of Britain and the bloc’s bilateral fisheries deal – which expires in June 2026.
Emmanuel Macron has warned against “cherry-picking”
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The existing agreement ensures EU vessels return 25 per cent of the value of fish caught in UK waters, delivering an additional £145million per year to the British fishing industry by its expiry date.
Alongside trade, the EU will be keen to discuss a set of mobility and education demands which could see European students exempted from paying steep international fees to attend UK universities, as well as 18-30-year-olds given the green light to work or study in Britain for four years.
And, of course, the status of Gibraltar will be crucial, with post-Brexit talks on the Rock still ongoing.
Speaking to GB News, a Gibraltar government source insisted that an agreement was close, despite a few key issues left to be “ironed out”.
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The status of Gibraltar will be crucial, with post-Brexit talks on the Rock still ongoing
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European Council President Charles Michel said the EU acting in its own interests first was “legitimate”
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Though they were firm on the issue of having “no Spanish boots on the rock” and no Spanish control over Gibraltar’s waters.
But Madrid has previously said its own police and EU officials would be required to man the territory’s border posts – seen by insiders as an unacceptable, “Franco-era” demand.
Before any bloc-wide talks take place, EU members have called for clarity on just what the UK will be requesting; at the Blenheim Palace summit, one official told the Telegraph: “First they have to work out exactly what they want and then come to us and we will talk about it.”
But European leaders have been firm on “cherry-picking” parts of the Single Market post-Brexit.
Olaf Scholz, seen here with Starmer in 2022, expressed his “willingness” to forge good relations
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European Council President Charles Michel said the EU acting in its own interests first was “legitimate”, adding: “In the end what is important is common sense and political courage so that we can make the right decisions, the right choices for the benefits of our citizens.”
And despite a number of chummy photo-ops with the Prime Minister at Blenheim, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Boris Johnson-era deals had to be honoured.
Macron said: “This one obviously has to respect what was decided at the time and should not be a sort of cherry-picking.”
Though Germany’s Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was a touch warmer on the topic, telling reporters: “It is too early now to go into the details, but there is a willingness to solve every question that needs to be solved in order to have good relations.”
