Brexit tensions add to Gibraltar's 'tumultuous' relationship with Spain
Residents of The Rock are bracing themselves during a "delicate time" in their relations with Spain as the UK leaves the EU.
Friday 23 November 2018 17:49, UK
Tough talk from Spain on Gibraltar in the Brexit negotiations surprised no one on The Rock.
But there is concern that the UK's plan to leave the European Union will be used by Madrid to cause problems for this tiny strip of British territory off Spain's southern coast.
Keith Azopardi, leader of Gibraltar's opposition party, said he is disappointed the Spanish government is threatening to vote against the Brexit deal this weekend unless the wording in draft texts is changed to give Madrid greater control over the territory's future.
"Anything that Spain does to upset the apple cart at the 11th hour is worrying, especially when Spain talks about excluding Gibraltar from a future relationship [between Britain and the EU]," Mr Azopardi, who heads the Gibraltar Social Democrats, told Sky News.
"We will hold the line… It is very disappointing to see things like this happen at such a late hour in very long negotiations where we were - up until last week - focused on whether the detail [in the deal] was good or bad for Gibraltar.
"Now we are focused also on the added dimension of Spain trying to pull a last-minute fast one."
Home to 30,000 people, Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly against Brexit in 2016, with 96% of the population wanting to remain a member of the EU.
Many still hope Britain's departure will never happen but are bracing themselves for if it does.
The territory and its economy will be particularly affected because of the border Gibraltar shares with Spain.
Goods and people flow back and forth between the two sides, but Madrid could choose - as it has done in the past - to close the border, cutting off a key lifeline for its British neighbour.
Although such a move would also affect the livelihoods of thousands of Spaniards who commute to The Rock daily for work.
"It's a very delicate time," said Marlene Hassan-Nahon, Gibraltar's only independent member of parliament and one of only two women among a total of 17 MPs who represent the territory.
"We find ourselves being dragged out of the EU overwhelmingly against our will and on top of everything we are one of the only places that has this geographical gateway to Europe through Spain."
There is a suspicion among Gibraltarians that Spain is using Brexit to try to re-exert long-standing sovereignty claims to Gibraltar, which has been British territory for more than 300 years and is home to an important UK military base.
"Our relationship with Spain has historically been very tumultuous," said Ms Hassan-Nahon.
"We know that Spain has always retained this sovereignty claim over us so at a time like this when we are leaving [the EU] it is extremely important and crucial to find a good agreement for the future and for cross-border fluidity and trade and [the] economy."
Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, has signalled he believes an accommodation can be made between the UK and Spain.
"I think you may find it is possible to reach an understanding on what the closed text of the treaty article 3 and article 184 mean," he said.
Common ground needs to be found to meet Spanish demands for a special say over Gibraltar and the UK's requirement for the territory to be treated as part of the wider British family, which will negotiate as a single entity with the EU on its future relationship.