In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Royal Navy has four ships ready to protect its own waters. Among other things, they are supposed to fend off EU fishing trawlers around the clock. All information in the news blog.
It will be tight: Great Britain and the European Union could still agree on an agreement for the British to leave the EU by Sunday night. However, hopes are noticeably dwindling: despite dinner together on Wednesday, both EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson were pessimistic – both no longer believe in a deal. The sticking points have not changed for months: fishing, fair competition and the question of how agreements are legally enforced in the event of a dispute.
London wants to take action against EU fishing trawlers in the case of no deal with the Royal Navy
The British government has four Royal Navy ships ready to protect their waters from EU fishing tractors in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense in London at the request of the German press agency on Saturday. The navy’s patrol boats could be used to repel EU fishing boats, among other tasks, the spokesman said. If necessary, also around the clock.
The issue of fishing is one of the sticking points in the stalling negotiations on a Brexit trade pact. There is still a transition period until the end of the year, during which British fishermen and their colleagues from EU countries share access to the 200-mile zone around its coast claimed by Great Britain. London insists on regulating access to the fish-rich waters at its own discretion in the future. The EU insists on a friendly solution. But that is not in sight. Both sides have given themselves until Sunday to make progress in the negotiations.
Oliver Dowden: The British Minister for Culture and the Media is even more optimistic than his Prime Minister. (Source: Mark Thomas / imago images)
British minister remains optimistic
After the skeptical words of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about a Brexit trade pact with the EU, the government in London is now rowing back a little. He does agree with the head of government that the negotiations are likely to fail. But there is “a significant possibility that we can get this deal done,” said Minister of Culture and Media Oliver Dowden on Friday the broadcaster Sky News. “We made almost 90 percent of the way.” A trade agreement is the best solution for both the EU and the United Kingdom – but not at any price.
Johnson said on Thursday evening: “I think we have to be very, very clear that there is now a high probability – a high probability – that we will have a solution that is more in line with Australia’s relationship with the EU than the Canadian. ” Everyone would now have to prepare for “the Australian option” – that is, trade without an agreement, with tariffs according to the rules of the World Trade Organization.
Foreign ministers of Germany and Ireland still consider Brexit to be possible
Despite the negative signals from Brussels and London, the foreign ministers of Germany and Ireland believe that an agreement in the Brexit negotiations is still possible. “We believe that an agreement is difficult, but that it is still possible,” said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) at a meeting with his Irish colleague Simon Coveney on Friday in Berlin. The EU will continue to negotiate as long as the window for an agreement is “open even a crack”.
“We want an agreement, but an agreement that makes sense,” said Maas. The EU is also prepared in the event that there is no agreement. And in this case the EU and Great Britain would “still remain partners and friends”. “It will be our responsibility to make that very clear even after such a situation,” said Maas.
His Irish colleague Coveney said his country was one of the hardest hit by Brexit. “We still believe it is possible to reach an agreement on the future relationship and enter into a commercial agreement,” said Coveney.
Norway threatens the EU and Great Britain
If the post-Brexit talks fail, Norway threatens to close its waters to fishermen from the EU and Great Britain on January 1. The necessary agreements on fishing rights between the three parties off the coast of the non-EU member Norway next year after Britain’s exit from the EU would have been severely delayed because of the faltering negotiations between Brussels and London, said Norwegian Fisheries Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen on Friday in front of the parliament in Oslo. If there is no agreement on fishing by the end of the year, Norway will close its waters to British and EU boats.
The EU and Norway have been regulating fishing in their respective waters since 1980 with an agreement. This allows fishermen from EU countries access to the Norwegian sea – and vice versa. Because of the Brexit, the contracts between Brussels, London and Oslo had to be renegotiated. Norway and Great Britain agreed on a successor agreement back in September. The government in Oslo therefore now sees the EU’s turn.
Von der Leyen prepares heads of state for “No Deal”
Brexit was also an issue at the EU summit on Thursday. However, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave the heads of state and government little hope. Read more here.
Johnson transfers the Queen because of Brexit
The British Prime Minister and the Queen traditionally meet before Christmas. But this year Johnson can postpone the meeting at short notice. Read more here.
Johnson puts the British on the failure of the talks
After the Brexit dinner, Prime Minister Johnson is pessimistic about the final spurt in negotiations for a trade agreement. On television, he calls on the British to prepare for the failure of the talks. Read more here.
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