European Council president Antonio Costa said the EU will not allow fishing rights negotiations to impede a potential security agreement with the UK, reports the Guardian.

"European defense and fisheries cannot be put on the same level," Costa reportedly said. The statement came after UK prime minister Keir Starmer presented his vision for an EU-UK security pact during his attendance at a European Council dinner.

The decoupling of fishing rights from security negotiations marks a departure from previous EU positioning, potentially streamlining future talks on access to fishing waters.