Spain’s acting foreign minister said that if the UK votes to exit the EU, “we would be talking about Gibraltar” the very next day.
José Manuel García-Margallo was speaking on Spain’s Radio Nacional and said that, while he hoped the UK would remain in the EU', its withdrawal would represent “a golden opportunity” for Spain to become the US’s “privileged partner” in Europe.
“I have defended the UK position in parliament and I have said that if, God forbid, the UK leaves, then Europe – or at least the 19 €countries – has to take a giant leap toward federalisation, toward the United States of Europe, so that the UK’s exit is not interpreted as the European project starting to melt. It’s true that this gives us an opportunity to have an even more important rôle, than the one we already have, with the US and don’t forget about other thing: we’ll be talking about Gibraltar the very next day.”
HM Government of Gibraltar was quick to react. "It is safer and more secure for Gibraltar to remain in the EU in order to deny Mr Margallo the opportunity to pounce on us," a statement read.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said García-Margallo’s comments would take no-one here by surprise and were “perfectly consistent” with the “manner and form” that had characterised his tenure at the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The statement also said that García-Margallo’s comments were consistent with a report published by the UK Government earlier this week which warned that there was “no certainty” the border would remain open in the event of a Brexit.
Picardo has often locked horns with Spain’s Popular Party when it was in power.
"Dealing with García-Margallo has required us to be tough on occasions," he said.
"I make no apology for that."
