Brussels threatens a Food Agreement from the United Kingdom unless access to long -term fishing

The EU is threatening with time to eliminate the red tape from the beverage and beverage exports of the United Kingdom through the channel, unless it has long -term access to the British fishing waters.

The perspective of an expiration date of a veterinary agreement called with the United Kingdom, a key demand of Sir Keir Starmer’s labor government, is designed to exercise the maximum leverage in London in fishing rights negotiations.

Restricting the duration of any veterinary agreement with the United Kingdom would create uncertainty for exporters, reducing the potential value of the agreement and adding pressure on the UK to make an open agreement on fish.

The sensitive theme is one of the last obstacles left, as the two parties closed in an agreement to “reset” relationships five years later Brexit At a summit on May 19.

The central part of the agreement is a defense and security pact, although the United Kingdom also wants to promote the economy by reducing the commercial barriers erected when it left the blog.

The necessary checks in agricultural products such as cheese and beef are one of the largest barriers than the Starmer government seeks to eliminate.

Brussels is currently insisting on a panoply of physical forms and inspections of sensitive products because UK standards could differ from EU ones.

This especially disrupts trade with Northern Ireland. To avoid a hard border on the island, there have been journeys to trade between it and the British continental part.

The UK government is under pressure so that British business has an agreement, with the main supermarkets in the United Kingdom, such as Marks and Spencer and J Sainsbury writing an open Letter last month instant the two parties to reach an agreement.

Any agreement would require the United Kingdom to follow the EU standards and accept the application of the European Court of Justice.

It UK is the largest market For the EU Agrifood exports in 2024, representing 23 percent, or 54 million euros. That year they grew 2.2 million euros.

The block imported 15.4 million euros from the United Kingdom, about half of the food and drink exports in the United Kingdom.

While London argues that a veterinary agreement would benefit the EU more, Member States counteract that the United Kingdom has a greater need for its dependence on the EU market. “They are the” demanding “here,” said a diplomat involved in the negotiations.

Brexit treatment cut EU fishing rights in the United Kingdom The 25 percent waters for five years, but in June 2026 it will lose all access unless a new agreement is agreed. Diplomats said they were expecting a fish agreement to last at least five years.

One of the British officers reported on the negotiations: “This is something that has been proposed, but I think it is certain to assume that it will not be the final state. Business needs certainty and having to renegotiate things every few years does not help.”

The United Kingdom government said “it will not provide comment on our discussions with the EU”, but added: “We know that we will always act in national interest to achieve the best results for the United Kingdom.”

The European Commission refused to comment.