A “sensible” Brexit is in Spain’s interests as well says Deputy Chief Minister

WITH the appointment of a new Foreign Minister in Spain who as a former career diplomat, it is hoped in Gibraltar that his behaviour will be less belligerent than his predecessor who even when handing over the portfolio boasted about the achievements he had made with regards to access to the Rock.

In recognition of this, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia has said that a “managed” and “sensible” Brexit discussion is in the best interests of both Spain and Gibraltar as he addressed students from the College of Further Education, Bayside and Westside Schools following a presentation delivered by a group who had returned from a visit to the EU institutions in Brussels.

The deputy chief minister explained that there were 12,000 people, mostly Spanish nationals, who live in Spain and work in Gibraltar and who count on a fluid border in order to make a living and that  that 25 per cent of the GDP of the surrounding area of Spain is generated by

Gibraltar whilst ‘Gibraltar PLC’ is the second largest employer for Andalucia after its regional Government.

He outlined the work that the Government has done so far in relation to Brexit, from meetings with the UK Government including Prime Minister Theresa May, to a comprehensive statistical analysis of the impact of leaving the European Union across every area of Government and across the private sector in Gibraltar.