Stuck between a rock and a hard place...
Spain says 'closer to' controlling Gibraltar after Brexit vote
Spain says 'closer to' controlling Gibraltar after Brexit vote
Britain's decision to leave the European Union has opened up a "new panorama" on the status of Gibraltar, according to a senior Spanish minister, who called on Britain to enter negotiations on joint sovereignty.
The small peninsula off the south coast of Spain, a British Overseas Territory since 1713 and known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations.
Shortly after the referendum result was confirmed, José Manuel García-Margallo, the Spanish foreign minister, told a national radio station: "It's a complete change of outlook that opens up new possibilities on Gibraltar not seen for a very long time. I hope the formula of co-sovereignity - to be clear, the Spanish flag on the Rock - is much closer than before," he said.
Spain will push for Gibraltar to stay out of any general negotiations with the European Union following Britain's exit from the bloc and will aim for bilateral talks to seek co-sovereignty and eventually Spanish control of the peninsula, Mr Margallo said.
Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union on a large turnout in the first result of the EU referendum vote count on Thursday evening.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo called an emergency cabinet meeting for Friday morning.
“We have surpassed greater challenges. It is time for unity, for calm and for rational thinking,” Mr Picardo said. “Together and united we will continue to prosper.”
The opposition leader in Gibraltar Daniel Feetham also tweeted a message of hope for the territory. “We have a duty to set out a positive and workable road map for the future. I remain positive that we can do that.”
The majority of those living in Gibraltar are British citizens with British passports, although thousands of Spaniards cross from mainland Spain to work on the peninsula every day.
Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Friday that Britain's vote to leave the EU would not affect the rights of these Spanish workers, who he said would be able to continue to move freely between the two territories.
Spain itself is facing an election on Sunday, its second in six months after an inconclusive vote in December. Polls forecast a fragmented result with no clear winner, potentially leading to weeks of negotiations over the formation of a coalition government.
The small peninsula off the south coast of Spain, a British Overseas Territory since 1713 and known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations.
Shortly after the referendum result was confirmed, José Manuel García-Margallo, the Spanish foreign minister, told a national radio station: "It's a complete change of outlook that opens up new possibilities on Gibraltar not seen for a very long time. I hope the formula of co-sovereignity - to be clear, the Spanish flag on the Rock - is much closer than before," he said.
Spain will push for Gibraltar to stay out of any general negotiations with the European Union following Britain's exit from the bloc and will aim for bilateral talks to seek co-sovereignty and eventually Spanish control of the peninsula, Mr Margallo said.
Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union on a large turnout in the first result of the EU referendum vote count on Thursday evening.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo called an emergency cabinet meeting for Friday morning.
“We have surpassed greater challenges. It is time for unity, for calm and for rational thinking,” Mr Picardo said. “Together and united we will continue to prosper.”
The opposition leader in Gibraltar Daniel Feetham also tweeted a message of hope for the territory. “We have a duty to set out a positive and workable road map for the future. I remain positive that we can do that.”
The majority of those living in Gibraltar are British citizens with British passports, although thousands of Spaniards cross from mainland Spain to work on the peninsula every day.
Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Friday that Britain's vote to leave the EU would not affect the rights of these Spanish workers, who he said would be able to continue to move freely between the two territories.
Spain itself is facing an election on Sunday, its second in six months after an inconclusive vote in December. Polls forecast a fragmented result with no clear winner, potentially leading to weeks of negotiations over the formation of a coalition government.
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