Picardo ‘up in the clouds’ on Brexit, PP insists

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo’s expectations of what Gibraltar can achieve in the face of Brexit are “unrealistic”, the Spanish Government’s representative in Andalucia said yesterday.

Antonio Sanz insisted that Spain’s co-sovereignty proposal was “the only realistic solution” for Gibraltar to the challenges posed by the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Mr Picardo “is still living in the clouds thinking that what is impossible is possible,” Sr Sanz told reporters during a visit to Algeciras.

“The risk is not the Spanish proposal, the risk for Gibraltar stems from Brexit.”

“We have to push ahead with the co-sovereignty proposal, which together with a development plan for the Campo represents a great opportunity.”

Sr Sanz said the Spaish Government was committed to investing in the Campo de Gibraltar to counteract the impact of Brexit on the region, whose economy is intimately linked to the Rock.

Among other projects, he promised progress with long awaited investments needed for rail and road infrastructure, together with parallel employment initiatives.

The government is also considering a special tax status for the area, similar to those in place in Ceuta and Melilla.

The aim was to develop opportunities stemming from the port in Algeciras and the surrounding industrial and logistics businesses.

Sr Sanz also insisted that Spain’s current legislature, in which the PP oversees a minority government, would be marked by consensus and dialogue between Spain’s political parties.