Campaigners call for compromise as criticism mounts in response to EU demands over UK fishing rights.
A blueprint for European negotiators, due to be presented to a council of European ministers next week, has revealed that the EU intend to make the UK giving European fishermen access to British waters and acceptance of EU laws a red line for a better trading relationship. This comes before the start of formal talks, due to begin in 2025.
Best for Britain campaigns for closer UK-EU ties, primarily through beneficial regulatory alignment, a youth mobility scheme and a new and independent UK Board of Trade.
Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain said,
"While an important issue, it's vital that we view conversations around fish quotas in the context that the current trading arrangements with our largest market have wiped 5% from UK GDP by some estimates, with customers paying more and businesses facing new barriers to trade which we now have no say over.
"Any improvement to the status quo will require compromise from both sides and issues will be best identified and resolved by a joint EU-UK regulatory cooperation council as recommended in 2023 by the UK Trade and Business Commission."