Brexit showdown as Gibraltar chief vows to stroll away from a foul deal | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Gibraltar’s Chief Minister has pledged to stroll away from the negotiating desk reasonably than join any post-Brexit deal which compromise’s the Rock’s safety or sovereignty.

Fabian Picardo was talking after the most recent spherical of talks in Brussels, involving himself, UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, and European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, ended with out a deal being struck in relation to Gibraltar’s future relationship with the bloc.

And whereas Mr Picardo stated he remained optimistic, he additionally emphasised that he would by no means do something which might run counter to the pursuits of the British abroad territory.

Yesterday’s talks adopted a collection of warnings by Brexiteers together with Sir Bill Cash MP, who outlined his issues in a letter to David Rutley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Americas, Caribbean and the Overseas Territories).

Sir Bill was notably involved about proposals for the border which he claimed might depart the Rock reduce off from the remainder of Britain describing it as “Northern Ireland Protocol 2.0”, in reference to the controversial put up Brexit mechanism for avoiding a tough border on the island of Ireland.

Speaking to the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Picardo downplayed the dangers and struck a optimistic word emphasising the arduous street forward.

He stated: “This is not just a negotiation that has been protracted because the parties are taking intransigent positions.

“We might have all got up off the table if that were the case.

“This is all of the parties genuinely seeing that there are issues that need to be resolved and more issues come up as we resolve other issues.”

He confused: “We have to combine, I would say, the political will to find an agreement to look for the best possible compromises, with the technical capacities and technical solutions which we need to develop

Negotiating a deal satisfied all three parties was like “going through one door to find 1,000 doors in the next room”, Mr Picardo identified.

Complexities centred on future preparations for the free motion of products and folks when it got here to move, specifically in air journey, Mr Picardo confused.

He stated: “There is a great prize here, if we can ensure that we square the circle.

“That’s why we’re all working so hard, that’s why we’re seeing everybody so engaged, because the benefits, I think, would be worth doing, and that’s why I continue to be engaged.”

Nevertheless, Mr Picardo, who just lately stated he would compromise Gibraltar’s sovereignty “over my dead body”, additionally made it clear he had sharply outlined purple strains which he wouldn’t cross.

He defined: “Nobody should think that the Government of Gibraltar would continue engaged in a process that was going to be bad for Gibraltar, either economically, socially or politically.

“That would of course not be the case. I wouldn’t be wasting my time in doing something that’s going to be bad for us.

“If you’ve been elected to represent the people of Gibraltar and to look after their interests and the interests of current and future generations, you have to stay at the table and you have to work hard and you have to ask your fellow Gibraltarians to respect the fact that the work that you’re doing is serious and difficult.”