Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-000518/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Ton Diepeveen (PfE)
After June 2026, the EU will automatically lose access to UK waters unless new agreements are concluded. That not only directly impacts European fishers’ access to those waters, but also weakens the EU’s negotiating position in the annual quota negotiations with the UK. It precludes provisional fishing arrangements pending allocation of quotas, undermining the stability of the fisheries sector.
In addition, a worrying trend can be observed in the trilateral negotiations between the EU, the UK and Norway. The EU’s negotiating position appears to be weaker, structurally, which is detrimental to our fishers and the distribution of shared fish stocks.
In view of these developments:
- 1.What specific steps is the Commission taking to make sure that EU fishers keep access to, and sufficient quotas in, UK waters after June 2026?
- 2.What strategies will the Commission employ to prevent EU fishers from suffering as a result of a weakened negotiating position in the annual quota negotiations after 2026?
Submitted: 5.2.2025