Europêche welcomes the new EU–UK fisheries agreement as a positive move to extend access and reduce trade barriers with access to UK waters. Photo: European Union 2025
EU fishing industry praises long-term agreement with the United Kingdom
Europêche has welcomed the new agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom that extends reciprocal access to each other’s fishing waters until 2038. The deal is set to be signed in London by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
While the full details and specific access terms have not yet been released, the agreement replaces the post-Brexit arrangements originally due to expire in June 2026. Europêche said the move would provide vital predictability and secure the future of EU fishing fleets that rely on access to British waters.
Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, described it as “a forward-looking agreement that ensures long-term sustainability and mutual benefit.”
Deal links fisheries access with reduced trade barriers
As part of a wider political package, the agreement includes provisions to streamline sanitary and phytosanitary checks on food and seafood products traded between the EU and the UK. Europêche welcomed this as a meaningful step in reducing trade friction that has damaged exporters since the original 2020 Brexit deal.
The organisation said the reduction in paperwork and delays would benefit both European market access and food affordability for British consumers.
Industry still recovering from damage of 2020 Brexit agreement
Europêche criticised the 2020 Trade and Cooperation Agreement for inflicting severe damage on the EU fleet. That deal cut the value of EU landings from UK waters by 25 percent, leading to decommissioned vessels and lost livelihoods across several member states.
The group said today’s agreement, by contrast, showed what constructive political cooperation could achieve. Europêche also praised the European Commission, national governments, and the European Parliament for acting early to secure the deal well before the 2026 deadline.
Call for continued collaboration and predictability
Europêche stressed that long-term cooperation remains essential for sustainable fisheries management. The group said stability in access rights, alongside practical trade arrangements, will be key to ensuring seafood remains a competitive and accessible food source across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Further technical details on the fisheries access agreement are expected to be released in the coming days.
Source: Europeche
