EU negotiators fail to agree on Gibraltar before Brexit summit

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European Union negotiators from the 27 states remaining after Brexit were unable to agree on Gibraltar during talks on Friday.

The negotiators met to try to clear the last hurdle before Sunday's summit to endorse the Brexit deal, but Spain's eleventh-hour objection over Gibraltar means the final text could not be ready until the last minute.

Spain has asked for changes to the withdrawal treaty and the declaration on a new EU-UK relationship to make clear any decisions about the disputed British overseas territory of Gibraltar would only be taken in direct talks with Madrid.

"We've worked very hard and have in fact reached agreement with Spanish colleagues in respect of Gibraltar's role in the withdrawal process," Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said on Friday.

"If (the withdrawal agreement is) opened for one comma or one full-stop on Gibraltar, it's going to be re-opened on any of the other issues."

"It is clear, and the government is determined, that it must be absolutely guaranteed that any agreement between the European Union and Britain require the prior approval of Spain, relating to Gibraltar," Spain's government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa said.

UK's Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said on Friday that May will work with Spain on Brexit, but added that Britain has worked openly with the EU on Gibraltar and wants to ensure a good deal for the "whole of the UK family."

The European Union flag flies alongside the Gibraltarian flag and Britain's Union Jack at the border in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, November 23, 2018. /Reuters Photo

May will arrive for more talks with the head of the EU's executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, in Brussels late on Saturday, just hours before the summit is due to start.

Under EU rules, the withdrawal treaty is adopted by a majority and not unanimity, so a single state cannot block it. However, EU leaders want unity on this most politically sensitive matter.

Britain and the EU are due on Sunday to endorse a divorce deal that includes a transition period from Brexit next March until the end of 2020, but it is unclear if there is enough support in Britain's parliament to vote it through.

Between now and March 29, when Britain leaves the European Union, May faces dozens of make-or-break votes in a parliament split into myriad factions, many of which have only one thing in common: their loathing of her divorce deal with Brussels.

Britain and the EU agreed in principle to a text setting out their future relationship on Thursday.

(Cover: A pedestrian walks along the seafront in front of the Rock of Gibraltar as seen from La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, November 22, 2018. /Reuters Photo )

Source(s): Reuters