Brussels insist Britain lets EU fishing boats operate on UK water in latest Brexit hardline

BRUSSELS will insist Britain lets EU fishing boats use our waters in a hardline stance on trade talks.

They want an agreement on the hated Common Fisheries Policy, which Brexiteers want to rip up.

Irish PM Leo Varadkar said the bloc will have the “stronger team” in the negotiations.

And the Taoiseach, who faces an Irish election in days, declared that the UK had “yet to come to terms with the fact it’s now a small country”.

Mr Varadkar said: “If these were two teams up against each other playing football, who do you think has the stronger team?”

But No 10 would not rule out a deal on fishing in exchange for EU access for City financial services firms.

The PM’s official spokesman would only say: “It will be for the UK to determine who fishes in our waters”.

A leaked presentation to EU diplomats also revealed it is set to insist there can be no deal at all unless the PM agrees to be bound by many EU rules.

And it will demand an overseeing role for the European Court of Justice.

EU capitals want to link any trade deal to “existing reciprocal access and quota shares” for fishing.

They have also called for tough legal measures to tie Britain to the bloc’s standards as a “precondition for any FTA”.

Eurocrats insist safeguards in a trade deal with the UK must go beyond what it has agreed with other countries like Canada and Japan.

And they are demanding a role for the European Court of Justice to “ensure consistent interpretation of the agreement”.

Mr Varadkar held talks yesterday with Michel Barnier who warned of a “cliff edge” for trade terms at the end of the year.

Mr Varadkar suggested the UK’s small size in relation to the EU economy meant it was not in a position to resist the demands.
The Irish premier said: “If these were two teams up against each other playing football, who do you think has the stronger team?”
And he suggested the bloc will exploit Britain’s “very weak position” on financial services to extract the concessions it wants on fishing.

Mr Barnier expressed concerns British politicians still believe Brexit won't have any negative side effects.

He said: “The UK cannot expect high-quality access to our Single Market if it insists on competing on state aid, social or environmental standards.
“I hope that our UK friends are reflecting carefully on this issue.”

Mr Barnier added that the imposition of checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland were one of the “consequences” of Brexit.
The gulf between the two sides’ starting positions has left EU diplomats and officials expecting an “ill-tempered” opening to the negotiations.

• GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk.