Certainly, we did not choose to leave. 96% of us voted to remain inside the EU. Sadly, the overall choice was a decision to leave and we have to respect that. But given that choice again, I can only wonder whether that vote would be as resounding here in Gibraltar. I say that because the European Union have let Gibraltar down badly. It is clear to me that for many in Brussels our 96% endorsement of the European project has counted for precious little. Indeed, the obsessive attitude of Spain has often taken priority over the interests and concerns of tens of thousands of real people in this corner of Europe.

In fact, the European Council’s negotiating guidelines of April 2017 made it clear that once the UK had left the European Union, the application of any agreement to Gibraltar would be subject to the consent of Spain. I know that hurt and angered many people here in Gibraltar. We saw how the negotiating position of Spain on Gibraltar has become the EU position as well. It is clear that in Gibraltar we have no issue with multiple identities. In other words, we can be European, British and Gibraltarian at the same time. However, in the UK there were many millions of people who saw a conflict in bring British and being European and in my mind this partly accounted for the decision to leave.

'ANTI-GIBRALTAR' ATTITUDE

But this, shall we say anti-Gibraltar attitude, has been a regular feature?

Well, the November European Council, saw Spain being provided with further political statements of support on Gibraltar. The truth is that since the start of this process in June 2016, Gibraltar has been singled out. We were told at the outset that once outside the EU, all options would be open to Spain, including closing the border completely; that shared sovereignty was a precondition of a new relationship with the European Union; that Gibraltar would be excluded from the Withdrawal Agreement; that Gibraltar would not be allowed to be a part of the transitional phase and that the future negotiation will not include Gibraltar without the consent of Spain. I think we need to prepare ourselves for more of the same. The United Kingdom is the Member State that is leaving and Spain is the one staying behind.

Having said that, Madrid has since ruled out the closure of the border. And there have been other changes to the original EU position.

WHAT KIND OF A CHALLENGE IS BREXIT?

Brexit has been a challenge to the UK, and also to Gibraltar. The meetings have been never-ending, and EU matters have taken up much of Gibraltar Government time. Has this been rewarding?

I don't think Gibraltar is afraid of the challenges flowing from the Brexit process. We have been ready for every eventuality. It has been a time-consuming and exhausting exercise with over five hundred meetings in London, Madrid, Strasbourg and Brussels. The reality is that Gibraltar has achieved considerable success. In the first phase we secured continued access to the United Kingdom market for businesses based in Gibraltar. This was vital to the financial services and on-line gaming industry. In the next phase we secured Gibraltar’s inclusion in the Withdrawal Agreement and in its transitional provisions. I cannot stress enough the importance of this. A new phase will open if the With-drawal Agreement is approved by the Westminster Parliament, after which the talks on the future relationship will commence.

CLOSER LINKS WITH COMMONWEALTH

When this year the Commonwealth flag went up, and then came down after the event, you indicated that next time round the EU flag might come down forever to be replaced permanently by the Commonwealth flag. It all points to our links with the Commonwealth being strengthened?

We believe, as a Government, in strengthening our bonds with the Commonwealth family as we prepare to leave the European Union. Gibraltar has always enjoyed a close relationship with the different organisations of the Commonwealth and we want to develop those links further still. Lord Marland, who is the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, has already been in touch with a number of ideas for business development and we are ready to develop those further. Gibraltar is already a member of the Council. There are huge opportunities in the Commonwealth generally and particularly in Africa which is next door. The next Commonwealth Head of Government meeting, for example, will be in Rwanda. The Government is currently conducting a detailed internal analysis of the way forward in this respect. It makes sense to look south as well given our strategic geographical position.

CLOSER TIES WITH THE COMMONWEALTH AS WE CARVE A NEW FUTURE

How close is Gibraltar to the Commonwealth?

When I met the Secretary General of the Commonwealth in London last year we discussed finding a place for the Overseas Territories in the Commonwealth structure. Gibraltar is ready for a new global outlook, as we leave the European Union. The Commonwealth is made up of a number of different organisations, each of them with different rules and structures. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Mr Akber Khan made it very clear that Gibraltar is as important as the larger countries like Canada and Australia within the organisation that he represents. In the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, a new status of Associate Member has been created for Gibraltar and the other Overseas Territories.

We would very much like to see the Heads of Government meeting adopt a similar policy in the future. In the meantime, we continue to work as active members in these fora and in others like the Commonwealth Local Government Association and obviously the Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth cannot, and should not, attempt to replicate the European Union. Brexit, nonetheless, provides us with an opportunity to enhance our existing Commonwealth connections and this is what the Government has set out to do. The opportunities that the future will bring are ours to shape because that future is yet to be written.

25-03-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR