'It's ABSURD!' Fisherman rips into EU's latest plot to REMAIN in UK waters after Brexit
BRITISH fisherman Simon Collins has ridiculed the European Union’s “absurd” draft proposal for its future trading partnership with Britain which called for Brussels to have continued access to UK waters after Brexit.
Fisherman slams EU over 'absurd' post-Brexit fishing deal
President of the European Council Donald Tusk revealed the EU27's draft trade negotiating guidelines in response to Theresa May’s speech on Friday and called for continued access to UK waters post-Brexit.
Simon Collins of the Shetland Fishermen's Association was infuriated by the “absurd” proposal.
He told BBC’s Brexitcast: “Fishing is one of the things with the EU that is involved the whole time. We are very much used to the way the EU operates from the inside if you like.
“And we have got quite used to the bold statements of the absurd and this is one of them.”
Brexit news: Fisherman said EU's latest proposal is
We have got quite used to the bold statements of the absurd and this is one of them
Mr Collins explained the deal put forward by the Brussels bloc appears to show the EU making a “great concession” in which it gives Britain a free trade agreement in exchange for fishing rules to remain in place.
He said: “Unfortunately the bit that they don’t say is that a trade deal would be mutually beneficial.
“It would help the EU just as much, perhaps more, than the UK given the way that the trade balance is.”
Mr Collins added: “So you are wondering 'well, they are offering a concession which isn’t one and by the
Farage brands Fishing 'the acid test of Brexit' back in 2016
“And that, of course, doesn’t square at all with what we want and apparently not with what the Prime Minister wants either.”
Mr Tusk was speaking at a press conference in Luxembourg on Wednesday. During the speech, he insisted he did not “want to build a wall” between the UK and EU but said the move to leave the single market and customs union meant “it should come as no surprise that the only remaining model is a free trade agreement” similar to the likes of Canada.
Mr Tusk also demanded the EU and UK continue to have access to one another's fishing waters.
He said: "I propose we aim for a trade agreement covering all sectors and with zero tariffs on goods.
"Like other FTAs, it should address services and on fisheries reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained.
"This positive approach doesn't change the simple fact that because of Brexit we will be drifting apart."