[ad_1]
British Prime Minister Theresa May settles in front of 10 Downing Street, London, on Thursday, November 22, 2018. According to Theresa May, approval of the Brexit agreement "is within reach" and she is determined to present. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press)
LONDON – Latest news on Britain's exit from the European Union (local time):
11:50
A Spanish government official said the conflict over Gibraltar could be resolved by amending a single clause in the divorce agreement between the UK and the European Union.
The Spanish Minister of European Affairs, Luis Marco Aguiriano, said Friday that officials could amend Article 184 to clarify that future relations between the EU and Gibraltar will be negotiated with the UK with the consent prior to Spain. "
In an interview with Spanish radio Onda Cero, he said officials in Brussels were working on options to address Spain's concerns over Gibraltar. He felt that there was a 60% chance of success.
Madrid has never given up its claim of sovereignty over the rocky outcrop located at the far end of the Iberian Peninsula, which was ceded to Britain just over 300 years ago .
___
11:45
Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokeswoman said Germany believed the outstanding issues regarding the Brexit deal would be settled in time for holding a special summit of the 39, European Union Sunday.
Spain warned that it would oppose a declaration on future relations with Britain if it was not guaranteed its say on the future of Gibraltar, even if it did not exercise right of veto on the actual withdrawal agreement.
Steffen Seibert, spokeswoman for Merkel, said: "We assume the outstanding issues can be resolved by Sunday, and we expect the summit to not go as planned." This is the subject of intensive work and the Chancellor is preparing for the trip to Brussels. "
___
10:55
The German Finance Minister said that Berlin still hoped for a regulated British exit from the European Union, but that the country was also ready for the eventuality of a Brexit without a negotiated agreement.
Olaf Scholz, who is also vice-chancellor, was quoted Friday by the newspaper Passauer Neue Presse as stating that an unregulated Brexit would be bad for everyone and would touch the worst of the British.
But, he says, "we are preparing very carefully for both variants, controlled Brexit and uncontrolled Brexit. Both present challenges, but we can and will manage them. "
___
10:00 am
European Union diplomats meet to finalize draft divorce agreement between Britain and bloc, while Spain warned it would oppose this deal if it was not guaranteed that his opinion on the future of Gibraltar would be guaranteed.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted that Britain and Spain "stayed away" on the issue and that "if there was no change, we would oppose our veto at Brexit ".
Spain wants the future of the tiny British territory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula to be a bilateral problem between Madrid and London.
Spain does not have a veto on the withdrawal agreement, which must not be approved unanimously. But that could block a future free trade agreement between Britain and the EU, which would require the approval of the 27 EU countries.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
[ad_2]Source link
