UK Edition
Spain won't veto final Brexit deal over Gibraltar
Spain has signalled it will not veto any final Brexit deal after progress was made in negotiations between Madrid and London over Gibraltar.
The European Union gave Spain the power to block the Brexit withdrawal agreement in March. Since then talks have been held between the two countries over what will happen to the Rock after Brexit.
Spain has long contested the sovereignty of Gibraltar, which it views as a British colony, but that issue has not featured in the negotiations.
Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, said that the UK and Spain had agreed a protocol which will be an annex to the Brexit deal. Spain dropped its demand for joint management of Gibraltar’s airport.
Speaking in Brussels after an EU summit on Thursday night, he said, ““The Gibraltar protocol is resolved, it’s been closed with the British government.”
It means any agreement negotiated between the UK and EU will not be scuttled by Spain.
“Given what we want above all is an agreement and to give stability to the people, elements where it is evident we are light years away from reaching an agreement with United Kingdom, like the shared use of the airport or [Spain’s] sovereignty over the Rock have been left out,” Mr Sanchez said.
Spain is now seeking agreement on four memorandums of understanding with Britain covering taxes, environmental cooperation, security, and the movement of workers. The memorandums do not pose a risk to the successful completion of the Brexit negotiations.
Theresa May and Mr Sanchez met for bilateral talks on Thursday during the second day of the prime minister's three day trip to Brussels.
On Wednesday, she demanded creative solutions from EU-27 leaders to break the Brexit deadlock before saying the UK would consider extending the transition period that effectively prolongs Britain’s membership of the Single Market.