British Prime Minister Theresa May announced today that they are "absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit."
For years now Spain has been asking for Gibraltar back, which The Spanish Crown formally ceded to The British Crown in 1713, under Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht. Gibraltar, which is located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, was captured in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The case became government policy under the dictatorship of General Franco and has remained in that state under successive governments following the Spanish transition to democracy.
EU has offered Spain a veto
There is no political party in Gibraltar that supports union with Spain, and Gibraltarians themselves reject any such claim. In 2002, trough a referendum the people of Gibraltar rejected a proposal on which Spain and the United Kingdom were said to have reached a broad agreement. The British Government has said that it would never enter into an agreement on sovereignty without the agreement from the Gibraltar Government and its people.
On Friday, the EU has offered Spain a veto, regarding future relations with the union of Gibraltar giving Madrid the great powers over the British enclave when it is no longer the Inner question of the EU.
Downing Street said it was May who publicised in talks with Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picard that they are keeping "firm commitment" to that territory, its economy and people.
"The Prime Minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their free and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content." the spokeswoman said.
EU must consider the Spanish side
Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Datis refused to speak about the veto around Gibraltar on Sunday, but he did referred to EU’s attitude, rating it positively.
"When Great Britain leaves the EU, the European partner is Spain and the EU regarding Gibraltar, therefore, is obliged to consider the Spanish side," said Dastis in an interview with newspaper El Pais.
