on Thursday, November 15, the secretary of State for the EU, Marco Aguiriano, appeared before the journalists and called the “success” of the agreement on the Brexit between the EU and the Uk. “It can’t be perfect,” acknowledged the high charge of Foreign affairs responsible for the relations with the Union, but all the requests raised by Spain had been served, terminated. From Guatemala, Pedro Sanchez considered “reasonable” by the covenant.
on Monday 19, the head of the Spanish diplomacy, Josep Borrell, amagaba for the first time in Brussels with the possibility of a veto. What happened in those five days for such a drastic change? Were 585 pages, and the pump was at the end, in article 184 of 185. Government sources admit they were caught by surprise. The Spanish experts were not looking for a new article, that nobody had warned. Had concentrated on checking that the protocol on Gibraltar was point-by-point as I had already agreed to three bands with the European Commission and London. Nothing to object to.
MORE INFORMATION Pedro Sanchez announces an agreement over Gibraltar is A before and after on Gibraltar United Kingdom camouflages your assignment with a heartfelt defence of british sovereignty of Gibraltar
The lawyers of the State, who read it all very calmly, only found the problem after several days. In the 184, which links the disengagement agreement with the future relationship of the Uk with the EU, there appeared an expression, legally problematic: “while fully respecting the respective legal regulations”. And it was even more disturbing to link it with article 3 of the treaty, which included Gibraltar within the expression “United Kingdom”, despite the fact that the Rock is not part of the same, but that is a british colony. The Legal Advice of the Ministry of Foreign affairs confirmed the suspicion that London might agree the future status of Gibraltar with the EU without the approval of Spain, as agreed in the guidelines (guidelines) of the negotiation of the Brexit. The legal services Commission denied it.
there Was an aggravating political. Article 184 was not included in the drafts that the negotiating team of the Brexit, led by Michel Barnier, had been sending to the european capitals. It sprouted like a mushroom in the final text that was distributed on Wednesday, 14. But the thing that most irritated in Madrid was to learn that the first minister Theresa May had advance notice and had set it in the knowledge of the chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo. A great country of the EU to have less information than a colonial enclave was hardly bearable. Aguiriano, reported that the Committee had acted “with night and treachery,” and the president Sanchez said Barnier, without citing it, to warn that someone had not done their job in Brussels. The Spanish Government avoids formally any kind of self-criticism, and points to Barnier, but other sources of the Executive themselves admit that they took too much time to find the fault.
on Friday, turn on the first alarm bells in the European Commission about a possible problem with Spain. Community sources remind us that on that day its president, Jean-Claude Juncker, is already “aware” that the impact of the departure agreement on Betboo the status of Gibraltar is concerned to Madrid. Sunday 18 the problem jumps during a closed-door meeting of the ambassadors of the eu member states. “It was a lively discussion,” describes a present source. Another source is less diplomatic, and described as “brutal” interventions of the Spanish delegation.
on Monday, Spain decide to play deposit. Borrell posed by the veto. Barnier understands the danger and agree that the negotiation runs the risk of crashing. Spain achieved that the negotiations no longer take it, which is parched, but Juncker. The spaniards believe that the obsession of Barnier to give May all the ammo possible to defeat the enemies of the covenant within their own ranks opened up the fiasco.
veto Threat
Sanchez is going up each day the level of the mule. You know that May need the agreement and plays strong. The concern of the prime minister is evident. “May spent Tuesday in the Berlaymont (headquarters of the Commission)”, reminiscent of community sources. May meets with Juncker, but the agreement of the Brexit is jammed at the worst time for the interests of the leading british.
on Wednesday, 21, the lock reaches the height alarming. The meeting of the European Commission failing to reach agreement on the Political Declaration. Juncker canceled a trip to the Canary islands. Sanchez, another to Iceland planned for tomorrow. The risk of collapse of a Brexit is too high. The tension will more and at the end of the day May and Sanchez talk by phone to defuse the crisis. Without success. Berlin warns that if it does not solve the differences, Merkel didn’t even go to the european summit today. And Germany requires an agreement on the Political Declaration Thursday as too late.
Thursday, from Havana, Sanchez insists: there is no agreement. Will veto it. On Friday, he publicly sustained, but in private some of the conversations they begin to show that there may be some space. “The Friday London assumes that we are serious,” say Government sources. In the evening there are intense negotiations. On Saturday, Sanchez and his team landed in Madrid at 9.00 between the fog and almost all go directly to The Moncloa. There comes the ultimatum final. If at noon there is no agreement, the summit is suspended.
Spain wants a letter English. José Manuel Albares, the sherpa of Sanchez, multiply your calls and messages with the head of cabinet of Juncker. Cross drafts of the letter british. Ask for some corrections are accepted finally. The time limit is approaching, but the covenant is already almost closed.
Finally speak to the president of the Council, Donald Tusk, and Sanchez, at 14.00, in order to definitively close the triple guarantee. Nothing more to hang up, the Polish calls to the prime ministers to the summit of domingo and Sanchez in the media to appear at 15.00. The agreement is made.
The relief of team Tusk is visible. The smiles and the jokes are bound to happen. The first abyss of Brexit has been avoided. The countdown to the 29 march, you can begin.
