Amid reports that fisheries is a key sticking point in the Brexit negotiations, what is the Norwegian model we hear the UK calling for? As former fisheries counsellor at the Mission of Norway to the EU in Brussels during negotiations in 1993-94, I can tell you that contrary to popular belief, this EU-Norway agreement does not provide for annual negotiations over access.
It is a long-term framework agreement on sharing of quotas in the North Sea and the principle of reciprocal access to fishing in each party’s exclusive economic zones. What does this mean in practice?
While there are annual negotiations between Norway and the EU, these focus on the total yearly quotas and relevant management issues and not on the sharing of stocks in the North Sea.
With the UK, the EU wants a framework for the management of shared fish stocks, as well as conditions on access to waters and resources.
The UK position seems to be different calling for everything to be agreed on an annual basis. The Norwegian model is then in fact more in line with the EU view as stated in its Brexit negotiating mandate.
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