A three-person panel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague will hear arguments from both sides for three days on whether a British ban on fishing sandeels in its North Sea waters breaches the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
read more
Representational image. File imgw/ Reuters
Britain and the European Union go to court for the first time on Tuesday to resolve a dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights, a case that could complicate Britain’s planned “reset” of relations with the bloc.
A three-person panel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague will hear arguments from both sides for three days on whether a British ban on fishing sandeels in its North Sea waters breaches the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
The three legal experts from France, New Zealand, and South Africa have until late April to deliver a final ruling.
In financial terms, the case is trifling. Britain puts the revenue loss for non-UK vessels at 45 million pounds ($56.3 million) in a worst-case scenario.
Politically, it could prove awkward.
The three-person tribunal can uphold the ban or rule it breaches the TCA, allowing the EU to retaliate if it is not lifted.
That would upset environmentalists and Brexiteers, who could pressure Britain’s Labour government not to yield, a stance that would hamper hopes for better ties with the bloc.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to join EU leaders for a retreat on Monday and discuss closer defence