Britain’s prime minister met on Thursday with the head of the Spanish government to discuss possible ramifications on the two countries from Britain’s planned departure from the EU.
The leaders declined to hold a press conference following their meeting or even make a joint public statement. Instead each government issued a statement.
The British government’s statement follows.
“A Downing St spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister held a productive working lunch with Prime Minister Rajoy today, in her first visit to Madrid since becoming Prime Minister.
Both leaders reiterated that our two countries have a strong relationship both economically and in terms of people to people links. Last year total trade between us amounted to almost £40bn and the UK was the second most popular destination for Spanish investment, behind only the USA. Millions of British tourists visit Spain every year and around 280,000 have made this their home.
The PM took the opportunity to praise the contribution that the many Spanish citizens living in the UK make to our country. She made clear that she wants and expects to be able to protect the status of all EU nationals living in the UK and that the only circumstances in which that wouldn’t be possible would be if British citizens’ rights in European member states were not protected in return.
The Prime Minister also made clear that as we go through the process of departure we will do so as one United Kingdom. There will be internal consultation with the devolved administrations and other stakeholders about how we represent everyone’s interests, but we will negotiate and leave as the UK.
Both sides agreed that the UK is leaving the EU not Europe and we remain committed to positive bilateral relations, and with the European Union as a whole.”
Elsewhere it has been reported that Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy sought to reassure May that he was keen to minimise the impact of Brexit on British expats and British companies with investments in Spain.
It is estimated that between 800,000 and one million British citizens are living full or part-time in Spain.
He also said that he wished to ensure the interests of Spaniards living in the UK and those with business there would not be “adversely affected by the new situation”.
"In the same way that Spain is going to defend the interests of Spaniards in the UK, the British who are living in Spain, the millions of tourists who visit Spain and the British companies based here should keep calm," said a written statement from Moncloa.
The statement also expressed that “Spain wants to carry on the same close and friendly relationship with the UK.”
It added that Spain would not consider supporting any independence movement within Britain.
"Mariano Rajoy also expressed to the British Prime Minister that Spain supports the integrity of the UK and will not encourage any kind of secessionism related to the exit from the European Union," the statement said.
Neither statement mentioned Gibraltar.
