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LAST UPDATE | 23 Nov 2018
SPAIN’S PRIME MINISTER Pedro Sanchez warned today there would “very probably” be no summit to approve Britain’s exit from the European Union on Sunday if the issue of Gibraltar is not first resolved.
Madrid is seeking a guaranteed veto on post-Brexit relations between the EU and Gibraltar, the British enclave on Spain’s southern tip, and has threatened to scupper the draft Brexit deal if it doesn’t get its way.
“If there’s no agreement” over Gibraltar, Sanchez said at a press conference in Cuba, “there very probably won’t be a European Council” summit.
Earlier on Friday, Spanish officials in Brussels said Sanchez might not attend the summit if London fails to put into writing a promise that no future agreement between Britain and the EU that applies to Gibraltar can be signed without first being negotiated on a bilateral basis with Spain.
That would effectively give Spain the power of veto over any future relations between the EU and the 2.6 square mile (6.8 square kilometer) British territory on its southern tip.
Sanchez wouldn’t confirm that threat to skip the summit but said current “guarantees are not enough and so Spain maintains its veto on the Brexit deal.”
“If there’s an agreement, we’ll obviously go.”
An original clause in the deal Britain has drawn up with the EU gave Spain it’s guarantees, but that has since disappeared from the final draft.
Although the legal service of the EU Council has tried to reassure Spain that the current text does not preclude this, Madrid wants that veto power clearly spelled out.
“We have demanded that it be published by the British authorities before the European Council on Sunday,” Luis Marco Aguiriano Nalda, state secretary for European affairs, told reporters in Brussels.
Both British and EU negotiators said that the withdrawal agreement itself would not change at this stage, but in London a spokesman for the prime minister’s office had earlier said: “We will work with the governments of Gibraltar and Spain on our future relationship.”
Should EU leaders sign off on the deal, British Prime Minister Theresa May would still have to convince her own parliament to back it, something seen as a greater challenge.
“If this deal does not go through, we are back at square one. What we end up with is more division and more uncertainty,” said May.
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Ahhh here leave it out.. what about the words of wisdom from Michelle with regards to the bravery awards to the garda. Priceless, just priceless. Any chance of having a Saturday/Sunday morning Darwin post of the week where a stupid comment (not a troll) acts as an application form or would this be seen as bullying :(
I agree, Michelle was outstanding!
Michelle was just the tonic for a bad week.
It’s a long time since I had such a laugh Michelle .
Thanks.
I was hoping her comment was here to.. really injoyed the replies she got.. made my day so she did..
I understand her initial comment was somewhat comical to read but what wasn’t comical was when no less than 20 users began berating her with varying degrees of snide remarks. I also understand that she retaliated in a poor manner… But like the saying, what do you expect from a badger if you back it into a corner? The comments section was something you could expect on a YouTube thread but I was disgusted to see such a personal attack with ‘crowd mentality’ against a single person…. But hey, it was all in the name of fun I guess so who cares? I do.
@ harry, i completely agree with you. I don’t agree with Michelle’s opinion but it was just that, her opinion. From the moment she posted her opinion she was met with a barrage of abuse, calling her a moron, retarded, dumb, half brained….. She actually tried to explain herself and her opinion 3 or 4 times before she resorted to petty insults. It’s pretty concerning that most of the so called “intelligent” posters felt the need to instantly react to her comment with childish name calling. Pot, kettle, black I think!
I was surprised at how quickly a usually fairly intelligent forum for debating current events descended into something that seemed more like a primary school yard. I don’t mean to be condescending but who knows if she has learning issues or otherwise, maybe she has none but it still doesn’t excuse the behaviour of a supposedly civilised society.
I laughed out loud may have given her a red thumb but didn’t partake in the crude comments, don’t like the mob mentally of bullying but her first few comments were priceless till people posted with venom.
And it’s true what they say about bullies being cowards when you look at the sudo names used.
Which article? I’m intrigued!
Promise to be nice and no name calling,
http://www.thejournal.ie/seven-gardai-honoured-medals-bravery-672775-Nov2012/
Just read that thread re the gardai and the comments that followed..looks like some have been deleted already.. What id like to know is why the whole thread hasnt been taken down? Its an absolute disgrace particularly when you take into account the recent stories regarding cyberbullying etc. There was little or no debate in relation to the content of the story, the comments reduced to total and utter personal abuse. how anyone could have enjoyed reading it is astounding.
Katie Does, brilliant comment.
Big time…but the Opus Dei dinosaurs are still trampling.
I did not post twice , I swear!
I’d like to thank my mom and dad and my brothers and me dog and my producer and anyone who knows me , thank you so much …..sob ..;)
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