France Blackmails Britain: You Want Brexit? Then We Fish In Your Waters Macron Gloats express.co.uk

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron refused to offer Theresa May a helping hand to guide her controversial Brexit deal through the UK parliament after it was rubber-stamped by European Union leaders in Brussels.
The influential leader delivered a blow to the Prime Minister as he boasted his demands for guaranteed access to UK fishing waters as part of any future trade deal is now supported by the entire EU27. Many political analysts have suggested the entire EU was essentially originally based on France’s demands to have both its agriculture and fishing artificially protected by what became the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy. Mrs May already faces stiff opposition from Conservative Brexiteers, including her 13 MPs in Scotland, to deliver any deal that allows room for bargaining over Britain’s territorial fishing waters. And now the French President outlined European plans that would see Britain forced into the backstop unless Mrs May concedes access to the UK’s fishing waters in the future deal.
Speaking after the withdrawal agreement and political declaration on the future UK-EU relationship was agreed by leaders, Mr Macron said: “An agreement assumes that each side promotes its position.

“We as 27 have a clear position on fair competition, on fish, on the subject of the EU’s regulatory autonomy, and that forms part of our lines for the future relationship talks, which is a lever, because it is in our mutual interest to have this future relationship.

“I can’t imagine that the desire of Theresa May or her supporters is to remain for the long term in a customs union, but to define a proper future relationship which resolves this problem.”

The French President added: “I don’t want to interfere on the decision in parliament.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the talks on fisheries are “undoubtedly going to be an area where negotiations are going to be tough”.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said: “The general issue of fishing will be an important subject over the next 18 months.

“We hope by the summer of 2020 to conclude on fisheries the exact nest stage.

“France, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark, we have a big interest here but also so does the UK to maintain market access to the EU for products coming out of UK waters.
“There’s a common necessity to come to a conclusion.”

Mrs May and EU, this morning, signed off on Britain’s divorce package, which leaders have said is the “best” possible outcome.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said: “I believe today it is important to take today’s step and then to also support May afterwards that she will get a majority for this deal.

“It is important that everybody in Great Britain is aware that the present deal is also the final deal, there is no renegotiations and there is no more leeway.”
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “I would vote in favour of this deal because this is the best deal possible for Britain.”

The Prime Minister said she is not sad to be leaving the EU and that the British public are growing tired of Brexit in her own message to rebellious MPs.

She said: “The British people don't want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit. They want a good deal done that fulfils the vote and allows us to come together again as a country.”

“So I will take this deal back to the House of Commons confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country. In Parliament and beyond it, I will make the case for this deal with all my heart and I look forward to that campaign.”