Spain says no Gibraltar ‘red lines’ in Brexit

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Saturday that Spain had no “red lines” on Gibraltar after EU leaders granted Madrid a veto over any future deal with Britain that would involve the territory. 

“There are no red lines or lines of any other colour” on Gibraltar, Rajoy said at a news conference after 27 European Union leaders met without Britain to adopt their negotiating position for Brexit talks. 

The EU 27 guidelines state that “no agreement” after Brexit between the EU and Britain could apply to Gibraltar without a bilateral agreement between Madrid and London.

Britain has expressed alarm over the clause and British Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted she will “never” allow Gibraltar to slip from British control.

With a population of just over 32,000, Gibraltar has been a British overseas territory since 1713 but Spain has long laid claim to it. Some 10,000 people cross from Spain to Gibraltar to work every day.

Authorities in Gibraltar fear Spain is trying to take advantage of Brexit to impose its control over the territory.

One former leader in May’s Conservative party said the dust-up invoked the memory of the Falklands War against Argentina.

Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU in last June’s Brexit referendum, but they still appear set on remaining British after the vote. — Rappler.com