Carmichael welcomes government confirmation of “no linkage” between fisheries and defence in EU talks

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed news today [Tuesday] that the UK government has rejected proposals to tie talks on fishing rights to other topics such as a defence and security pact with the EU.

Speaking to the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee – chaired by Mr Carmichael – Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said that there would be “no linkage” between fishing negotiations and talks in other areas.

EU governments have previously suggested that agreement on fishing is their price to give ground on shared priorities like defence.

Mr Zeichner told the Committee: 

“The French will say what they will say, but we are absolutely determined to stand up for the interests of the U.K. fishing industry."

“I wouldn’t believe everything that is rumoured around an issue like this, because obviously there is lots and lots of speculation, but of course, we have discussions, because the transitional period comes to an end in the middle of next year. But no decisions have been taken and there is no linkage.”

“We’re absolutely determined to stand up to the U.K. fishing industry. The fishing industry has been let down before, and I don’t intend to let that happen again.”

Mr Carmichael said:

“If this bears out in action from the minister then it is absolutely on the money. Fishermen felt that the deal that was done at the end of the Brexit negotiations was one that did not deliver what they had expected. It would be the height of madness to tie vital defence talks with the EU to unrelated fisheries negotiations.

“Anything that is a further backwards step on access and quota share for UK fishermen will be viewed very bleakly by the industry, and even modest progress will still leave them quite a way short of where we want to be.

“Fishermen were promised a lot about our departure from the EU – they have the right to expect better now.”