After reassurances from other EU politicians to the contrary, Jessica Rosencrantz, Sweden’s EU affairs minister, dropped a bombshell recently. In an interview with POLITICO, she said that EU member governments were unlikely to sign off on a security deal with the UK unless negotiations are also resolved on other ‘sensitive’ issues, including access to British waters for European fishing fleets.

“Just to be clear, I think it’s really important that the EU and UK work together on defence and security,” she said. “Obviously, there are other sensitive issues as well for many member states which also need to be resolved, fisheries being one.”

Asked in the interview if the EU could complete a defence deal first and then move on to fishing rights, she said: “I think we have to find a way where we can do both, because we want to move ahead with the defence partnership, but for many countries it’s important to solve the other sensitive issues as well. And therefore I think it will be important to take steps also when it comes to fisheries and other topics.”

Sweden, the first EU country to completely ban trawling in its own inshore waters, has very little skin in the game when it comes to accessing UK waters, or even any shared stocks, leaving some commentators puzzled by her approach.

Downing Street refused to be drawn on the remarks. The prime minister’s spokesman said: “We’ve always said we’re not getting into running commentary on the talks that we’re having with the EU in relation to the reset.”

For the Conservatives, shadow Defra minister Victoria Atkins said: “Europe should provide a united front on defence, in order to stand up to dictators like Vladimir Putin.

“But this cannot come at the expense of backsliding on Brexit, and surrendering our fishing rights to the French. We are a sovereign country, and our government must protect its rights to the hilt.

“Labour must not sail our fishermen down the river in their backroom Brexit betrayal plans.” Unlike, of course, the previous government, which actually negotiated, agreed and signed the TCA!

Orkney and Shetland Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: “Reports that a deal over shared defence in Europe could be blocked over demands for concessions from UK fisheries are seriously concerning.

“In the face of growing threats to democracies globally, it would be the height of madness for any country to play politics over this issue – we surely all have bigger fish to fry.”

This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here. 

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