European Council President Donald Tusk has sent the formal invitation for Sunday’s EU special summit to formalise the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.
The letter was delayed in view of the Gibraltar issue, which however now has been solved.
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will agree to support the Brexit deal after Britain and the European Union agreed to give it a say in the future of the disputed British territory of Gibraltar.
Sanchez says Saturday that the U.K. and the EU have agreed to include language in the Brexit divorce deal that Spain could deal with London directly on the issue of Gibraltar.
Sanchez says “this is going to allow us to have direct negotiations with the U.K. regarding Gibraltar.”
This declaration came after the British Government sent the following to the Spanish government in terms of clarification vis a vis Gibraltar.
The Spanish are claiming a huge victory in last minute talks over Gibraltar to unlock path to the Brexit summit tomorrow. The reality is that the Brits have not given new ground; they have clarified existing position and highlighted an existing vulnerability created by Brexit. Analysts say however that it is incorrect for Spain to claim a triumph of its own statecraft This “win” is a consequence of Brexit.
Meanwhile this is the Full text of Tusk’s letter to the EU heads of states
“We are meeting in the European Council (Art. 50) tomorrow to finalise and formalise the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.
At the very beginning of these talks, almost two years ago, we agreed the EU27 negotiating guidelines. They set the following objectives:
• to minimise the uncertainty and disruption caused by Brexit for our citizens, businesses and Member States;
• to settle the status of EU citizens who live, work and study in the UK with reciprocal guarantees;
• to make sure that the UK honours all financial commitments and liabilities;
• to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland;
• to prevent a legal vacuum for our companies.
The EU negotiator has achieved these objectives. The Withdrawal Agreement ensures that the rights of our citizens are fully protected, the peace process in Northern Ireland should not be affected, the UK will continue its payments to the EU budget during the transition period and legal certainty will be secured. Our negotiator has thereby managed to reduce the risks and losses resulting from the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.
The Political Declaration sets the direction as regards the future relations. We intend to work resolutely towards building the best possible relationship with the UK after Brexit, as friends and partners. And we will have around two years to work out and agree a precise framework for such cooperation. And if, in spite of our best efforts, additional time is needed to negotiate the future relationship, an extension of the transition period by up to two years will be possible.
During these negotiations, no-one wanted to defeat anyone. We were all looking for a good and fair agreement. And I believe that we have finally found the best possible compromise. Given all of the above, I will recommend that on Sunday we approve the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. And although no-one will have reasons to be happy on that day, there is one thing I would like to stress: at this critical time, the EU27 has passed the test of unity and solidarity.
The meeting of the 27 Leaders will start at 9.30 with an exchange of views with European Parliament President Tajani. We will then hold an EU27 working session to endorse the Withdrawal Agreement and approve the Political Declaration for the future relationship. Finally, we will meet with Prime Minister May to jointly consider the next steps.
