European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier will propose that 15-18 per cent of the value of fish quota that European fleets catch in British waters be restored to the United Kingdom, RTÉ reported on Friday.
“EU vessels catch on average €650 million in quota each year from UK waters, meaning Barnier's offer would be worth up to €117m,” RTE correspondent Tony Connelly said. “These would be in demersal and pelagic stocks.”
Mr Barnier will arrive in London late on Friday night as Brexit talks continue ahead of the December 31st deadline.
Face-to-face negotiations will resume shortly after they had to be suspended last week when one of Barnier's team tested positive for coronavirus.
“Same significant divergences persist,” Mr Barnier said on Twitter. “Travelling to London this evening to continue talks.”
Recounting the contents of a closed-door briefing given by Mr Barnier to national diplomats on the progress of the negotiations, a senior diplomat told Reuters it was “not a particularly bright picture”.
The talks are still snagged on three main issues — fishing, state aid and future dispute resolution — but neither side has so far shown a willingness to shift enough on them to allow a breakthrough.
Another source said Mr Barnier had told the meeting in Brussels he was not able to say yet whether a new UK trade deal would be ready in time.
“Differences persist on the three controversial issues,” the senior diplomat said.
