Madrid threatens to boycott Brexit summit unless it gets its way on Gibraltar exclusion from withdrawal deal
SPAIN has threatened to "stop the clock" on Brexit talks and postpone Sunday's summit if it doesn't get its way over Gibraltar.
Madrid said negotiations on whether the Rock will be automatically included in a future EU-UK trade deal would go down to the wire this weekend.
PM Pedro Sanchez has vowed to oppose the withdrawal package if it isn't changed but has become increasingly isolated within the bloc.
Other Member States, including Germany, have insisted that the text must be finalised by today if they are to turn up at the summit.
And last night Spain's EU minister, Luis Marco Aguiriano, suggested rescheduling the entire event to provide more time for a solution to be reached.
He said: "Every minute counts on the eve of a European council where a momentous decision is to be taken.
"The minutes that run through the night and into the hours of the early morning really count as the EU council anticipates finishing its business.
"Or the clock could even be stopped and another European council could be called. That's nothing extraordinary or surprising."
Such a move would represent an extraordinary failure to reach agreement within the EU and would present a major headache for Theresa May.
But Mrs May stood firm over Gibraltar and vowed not to give an inch. She said: "I am confident that on Sunday we will be able to agree a deal that delivers for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar." Speaking in the Spanish parliament, Mr Aguiriano accused Britain of changing the withdrawal pact "almost with treachery and under cover of darkness".
But opening the door for a possible climbdown, he also hinted Madrid could accept an EU legal opinion clarifying its demands on Gibraltar are enforceable.
Madrid is becoming increasingly isolated in Brussels, with other Member States angry at its grandstanding threats to torpedo the hard-won agreement.
Leaders have been enraged by Mr Sanchez putting a spanner in the works at the eleventh hour after being assured the Rock issue was sewn up.
Diplomats said leaders are watching Madrid's behaviour with alarm and that is is becoming increasingly isolated over its outbursts.
Tensions apparently erupted at a meeting of EU ambassadors on Tuesday, with Spain's representative shouting at his German counterpart.
Pablo Garcia Berdoy reportedly said his country had supported the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union and deserved solidarity in return.
Mr Sanchez, who is facing crunch regional elections, is demanding the deal be rewritten to state a UK-EU trade deal won't automatically cover Gibraltar.
Eurocrats and other leaders say the Withdrawal Agreement is set in stone, while Britain is rebuffing his attempt to redraw the future partnership text.
And Tory MEP Ashley Fox said: "I highly doubt the EU will tolerate Spain holding the whole deal to ransom over a territorial issue."
After speaking to Mr Sanchez on the phone, the PM vowed to secure a deal "that delivers for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar".
An EU Commission spokesman confirmed the Rock "still needs to be dealt with" but said the "ball is in the Member States' courts" in the final run-in.
He said: "It’s for the Member States to work on this now and reach an endorsement on Sunday."
At a meeting of EU ambassadors yesterday, Germany again threatened to boycott Sunday's summit if the deal isn't finalised by today.
The other 26 leaders largely support Angela Merkel's position and that if Madrid can't be assuaged the summit could be scrapped.
A senior EU diplomat told The Sun: "It's been made quite clear if one country cannot agree there will be no Council, however I don't see that happening.
"There's a clear interest on the Spanish side to have this dealt with before Sunday."
The Sun understands Spanish concerns could be allayed by a separate Council "declaration" outlining how the 27 will deal with Gibraltar in trade talks.
most read in politics
But ex Lib Dem leader Tim Farron warned: "This spat over Gibraltar could potentially sink Theresa May's bad Brexit deal once and for all.
"The people of Gibraltar must not be used as pawns in a political game between Whitehall and Brussels.
"I worry that in this messy divorce we might be leaving one of the children behind."
- GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email [email protected].