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British Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement 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 execute it. (AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) – The Latest news on the Brexit negotiations (local time):
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain would agree to support the Brexit agreement after Britain and the European Union decided to give its opinion on the issue. 39, the future of the British territory in dispute in Gibraltar.
Sanchez said Saturday that the UK and the EU had agreed to include in the Brexit divorce agreement a text that Spain could deal directly with London on the issue of Gibraltar.
Sanchez says that "this will allow us to have direct negotiations with the UK regarding Gibraltar."
The issue had become a stumbling block in late discussions of Brexit. Sanchez had said Friday that he would not support the British divorce agreement and EU leaders are expected to vote at Sunday's summit in Brussels, saying that a draft of The agreement did not include any clear language regarding Gibraltar.
The European Union is on the point of reaching an agreement to appease Spanish concerns about the future of Gibraltar during the Brexit negotiations.
EU spokesman, Preben Aamann, said Saturday on Twitter that after a phone conversation between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and EU Council President, Donald Tusk, " we are getting closer "to an agreement before the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday.
The future of the tiny territory of Gibraltar – ceded to Britain in 1713 but still claimed by Spain – was the only dispute that remained unresolved before Sunday's summit.
On Friday, Spain demanded an absolute guarantee on the future of Gibraltar as a precondition to the divorce agreement between Britain and the EU.
The vice president of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland used a party speech to persuade Prime Minister Theresa May to change course on Brexit.
Nigel Dodds said Saturday at the Belfast conference that it was not too late for May to change her plan in favor of Brexit.
He added that the draft agreement with the European Union on Brexit would leave the UK in a "pitiful and pathetic place".
The small DUP plays a disproportionate role because its support has been crucial to May's fragile government, which does not have a majority in Parliament.
The party threatens to end its support for the plan of Brexit favored by May. This would jeopardize May's already difficult challenge of gaining Parliament's support for her proposal.
The Portuguese Foreign Minister is in favor of the agreement on Brexit, including the request of Spain to decide on the future of the disputed British territory of Gibraltar.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, said that the initial directives of Brexit, set out last year and providing in particular to guarantee to Spain that she could deal directly with London on the issue from Gibraltar, were "wise".
Spain said Friday that it would not support the British divorce agreement and that EU leaders are expected to vote at Sunday's summit in Brussels after the wording regarding Gibraltar does not appear in a draft agreement.
Santos Silva said the stalemate was "an easy solution as the state leaders of the 27 had already agreed (.) That any agreement between the UK and the EU on Gibraltar would require an agreement prerequisite of Spain, which seems very judicious ". line."
British Prime Minister Theresa May begins a big Brexit weekend as she travels to the European Union headquarters in Brussels for talks Saturday with key leaders.
The Spanish objections to the status of Gibraltar – the tiny territory ceded to Britain in 1713 but still claimed by Spain – constitute the only dispute that remains unresolved before the summit of European leaders on Sunday.
May will meet the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the Council, Donald Tusk, in the evening.
May hopes to leave Brussels on Sunday with a firm agreement on the terms of withdrawal of Britain's withdrawal from Britain on March 29, as well as a comprehensive negotiating text on the future structure of relations once both sides have gone ahead. heard on a trade agreement.
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