'Let me WARN Europeans!' Spanish MEP turns on Madrid as he pledges support to Gibraltar
SPANISH MEP Ramon Tremosa hit out at the central Government in Madrid for threatening to reject Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement unless Spain is given a guaranteed veto on the future of Gibraltar.
Brexit: Spanish MEP pledges support to Britons in Gibraltar
The Catalan politician blasted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after he claimed Spain would reject the proposed Brexit withdrawal deal. The Spanish leader demanded the European Union hand Madrid a guaranteed veto on any future trade arrangement between the bloc and the UK involving Gibraltar. But Ramon Tremosa defied the Spanish Government's stance as he warned "all Europeans" to beware of Spain in the final phase of Brexit negotiations.
Speaking to Raw Politics, Mr Tremosa said: "All the Spanish Governments have been, since the Franco regime, using Gibraltar for electoral purposes.
"Five days ago, Prime Minister Sanchez said the agreement was fine and then the Foreign Minister comes out. Let me warn all Europeans about the concept of democracy the Spaniards have.
"They don’t have any respect for the will of the Gibraltarians that, some years ago, voted 98 percent in a referendum to remain British."
Spain has long sought to expand control over the British overseas territory of Gibraltar despite formally ceding the Rock to Britain in 1713.
READ MORE: 'Gibraltar is OURS!' Furious Spaniards demand Rock is returned to Madrid after Brexit
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This declaration of the minister of Spain doesn’t take into account the will of the people of Gibraltar
Theresa May has shot down attempts to include Gibraltar in the Brexit talks as she insisted the British Government would "never" discuss a change in the sovereign status of the territory without permission from the local Government. Over 95 percent of Gibraltarian voted against a proposal to split sovereignty between Spain and the UK in 2002.
Mr Tremosa continued: "This declaration of the minister of Spain doesn’t take into account the will of the people of Gibraltar.
"This is very dangerous as we think the EU is a democracy."
Pedro Sanchez warned Spain will sink the proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement as the summit of EU leaders scheduled for November 25 unless Brussels guarantees Madrid will have more control over Gibraltar.
Mr Sanchez said: “As a country, we cannot assume what is going to happen in the future with regard to Gibraltar they are going to negotiate between the UK and the EU.
“It should be negotiated between Spain and the UK. As it stands, the Spanish government will vote against the Brexit deal.”
The Spanish Government has raised opposition against two articles of the draft Brexit withdrawal deal Theresa May unveiled last week after a five-hour meeting with her Cabinet ministers.
Madrid has objected to Article 184 of the withdrawal agreement, which states that the United Kingdom and EU will use the transition period to “use their best endeavours to negotiate expeditiously the agreements governing their future relationship referred to in the political declaration”.
Spain believes this clashes with Article 3 in the draft treaty, which sets out the territorial scope of the negotiations will cover Gibraltar and other British overseas territories.
Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said: “Negotiations between the UK and the EU do not apply to Gibraltar. Future negotiations on Gibraltar are separate negotiations.
“This is what must be made clear. Until we have the future declaration and we know what it says, whether we agree with it or not, we are not going to approve the withdrawal agreement.”