And finally… trawling the archives
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Belgium has said it will invoke a 350-year-old treaty allowing for Flemish fishermen to fish in British waters if a post-Brexit fishing deal cannot be struck.
The charter, which was rediscovered in Belgian archives in the 1960s, was issued by King Charles II in 1666 as thanks to the city of Bruges for hosting him during his exile prior to the 1660 Restoration.
Flemish fisheries minister Hilde Crevits told VRT News: “The 1666 charter came to light during our search of ancient documents. It should provide evidence that 50 Bruges fishers have the right to fish in the UK’s 12-mile-zone in perpetuity.”
She highlighted: “Our fishing fleet counts 67 vessels. The privilege could offer comfort to many of them.”
However, she added that a post-Brexit fishing agreement “is the best outcome both for the UK and the Flemish economy”.
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