Brussels, 27/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 27 June, the Head of Gibraltar's Representation in Brussels, Sir Graham Watson, informed us that the no vote in the referendum could put the small British enclave in a delicate situation, particularly if the Spanish People's Party is re-elected in Spain, following the general elections on 26 June.
Gibraltar's majority to remain in the European Union was even bigger than that in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and it voted by more than 96% in favour of the United Kingdom staying in the Union (see EUROPE 11580). Sir Graham Watson does not, however, believe that the differences in the referendum results will bring the relationship between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar into any question. On the other hand, Brexit and will undoubtedly affect Gibraltar's relations with the Union, particularly with Spain, with which diplomatic relations have been delicate for a long time (see EUROPE 11323 and 7627). Nonetheless, these difficulties could be further exacerbated in the event of the Spanish People's Party being re-elected to office because it has obtained 137 seats at the Spanish parliament out of 350. Mr Watson pointed out that historically, relations between Gibraltar and Spain have always been simpler when a government of the left was in power.
The day the British referendum results were proclaimed, the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Garcia-Margallo, proposed shared sovereignty over the British enclave between Spain and the United Kingdom, in order to enable the British inhabitants in Gibraltar have access to the European single market. According to Sir Graham, however, no Gibraltarian would ever accept this proposal.
On a more general level, the government of Gibraltar explained in a press release on 27 June that Brexit would not be formally activated until the United Kingdom has formally notified the Union of its withdrawal (Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union. Aligning itself on the statement made by the outgoing British Prime Minister, David Cameron, on Monday, the Gibraltarian Government, stated "therefore, the commencement of this procedure is entirely in the hands of the United Kingdom". (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)