Theresa May’s Brexit plans are back on track with the European Union after the prime minister agreed to meet Spain’s demands regarding Gibraltar.<\/b>
\nNov. 24 (UPI) — Theresa May’s Brexit plans are back on track with the European Union after the U. K. prime minister agreed Saturday to meet Spain’s demands regarding the territory of Gibraltar.
A summit planned for Sunday was in jeopardy when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the last minute threatened to boycott the gathering of the 27 EU members because he wanted guarantees how the British territory off Spain’s southern coast would be treated after Great Britain’s planned departure from the EU.
Spain will have veto power over Gibraltar benefiting from a future trade and security agreement between the European Union and the British government.
May’s government, insisting Britain would always stand by the territory, issued a legal statement that met Spain’s demands.
\u00ab\u00a0I’m proud Gibraltar is British and I will always stand by Gibraltar,\u00a0\u00bb May said to the media, arriving in Brussels, Belgium, for talks Saturday. \u00ab\u00a0The U. K.’s position on Gibraltar has not changed and will not change.
\u00ab\u00a0We have negotiated on behalf of Gibraltar, they are covered by the whole withdrawal agreement and by the implementation period,\u00a0\u00bb she said. \u00ab\u00a0In the future we will continue to negotiate on behalf of the whole U. K. family and that includes Gibraltar.\u00a0\u00bb
She met with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Council President Donald Tusk before making the announcement.
\u00ab\u00a0I will recommend that on Sunday we approve the outcome of the Brexit negotiations,\u00a0\u00bb Tusk said in his letter to the bloc’s leaders. \u00ab\u00a0We intend to work resolutely towards building the best possible relationship with the UK after Brexit, as friends and partners.\u00a0\u00bb
Sanchez wanted a guarantee that Gibraltar wouldn’t be included in any future trading negotiations between the European Union and Britain.
\u00ab\u00a0To the Spanish people I say we have taken a decisive, determined step forward and we have absolute guarantees to resolve a conflict that has lasted more than 300 years,\u00a0\u00bb Sanchez told a news conference in Madrid.
Negotiations have been going for 17 months regarding Britain’s departure from the EU.
The British Parliament must still approve the 585-page withdrawal agreement by a March 29 deadline — and May’s decision on Gibraltar has angered leaders across the political spectrum.
Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat’s Brexit spokesman, said: \u00ab\u00a0The prime minister has caved in once again. In a desperate bid to get her disastrous deal across the line, May appears to have cast the people of Gibraltar aside.
\u00ab\u00a0This is a day of shame. The only way to sort out this chaos would be through a People’s Vote, with the option to remain in the EU.\u00a0\u00bb
Clare Moody, Labor’s minister for Gibraltar, said: \u00ab\u00a0What is remarkable is that Theresa May has gone to Brussels to concede further text at this stage, before we’ve even left.\u00a0\u00bb
And Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative minister, said: \u00ab\u00a0It appears that there is no-one the prime minister will not betray to achieve her sell-out deal.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n