BRITONS have reacted furiously after Spain joined forces with fellow EU nations in demanding continued access to the UK’s fishing waters.
PUBLISHED: 12: , Wed, Feb ,
UPDATED: : , Wed, Feb ,
British fishing waters will be a key battleground throughout the UK’s trade negotiations with the EU. Already, Brussels has demanded continued access
On Tuesday, Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons called on the EU to put forward a hard bargain and “defend” their own access to the rich waters. (He said in the European Parliament: “W e will defend our own.
“We will defend the decolonization of Gibraltar, we are going to defend fishermen, those working at sea as well as those working on land. Our farmers, we are going to defend our products.
“If politicians in the UK want to become a third country, we’ll treat them like a third country. ”
Brexit news: Britons hit out at EU demands (Image: GETTY)
Following Mr Johnson’s previous statements on the matter, readers called on the Prime Minister to defend UK fishermen in the face of EU threats.
Commenting on Facebook, Vivian Proudfoot said: “For goodness sake Boris, don’t let us down, stand up Britain!
“Our fishermen have suffered enough!”
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Another wrote: “We need to patrol our waters and defend our fishermen’s rights, if he wants to remain PM, he needs to say no the to the EU fishermen. ”
Another person also added:“ Why oh why are our waters so much better than their own waters, is it because their own greed has depleted fish stocks there that it is no longer economical to trawl those waters. ”
Someone else said: “It just shows how much of their own way they’ve had over the years, whilst our fishermen have lost their livelihood.
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Brexit news: Michel Barnier has warned the UK over its waters (Image: GETTY)
Brexit news: The UK has been a part of the CFP previously (Image: GETTY)
“It’s about time we started standing.” up for this country. ”
Before Brexit, the UK was part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) .
Within the policy, the EU gives all nations equal access to the European Economic Zone.
The policy, however, has been criticized for exploiting the rich fishing waters around the UK.
(Brexit timeline) (Image: Express)
Pressure group, Fishing for Leave have long championed the idea of the UK becoming an independent sovereign fishing nation similar to that of Norway.
Commenting on what Mr Johnson must do, one of the founders of the group, Alan Hastings said: “Boris needs to protect British waters. “There is a huge public expectation that he will take back fishing from the EU .
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Brexit news: Mr Macron has led the way in the battle for fishing (Image: GETTY) “If he doesn’t, he will be wiped out.”
despite the claims for Mr Johnson to protect fishing, officials in Brussels have warned him financial services will not be given access to the single market if EU vessels are prevented from entering the waters.
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