Gibraltar, which is a British overseas territory, has been subject to various attempts to reclaim its sovereignty by Spain, with Brexit providing the latest opportunity for Madrid to flex its muscles and once again attempt a land grab.
The European Union granted Spain the power of veto over the future relationship between Gibraltar and the EU after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019.
In essence, it offers Madrid a special share of power over Gibraltar’s fate, but only once the territory is no longer an internal EU problem.
With Spain in such a powerful position, the British, Gibraltarian and Madrid governments have been locked in bilateral talks to ensure a smooth passage out of the EU for the Rock.
A Gibraltarian source has revealed Spain have demanded they have their own police force stationed in the Rock’s international airport.
A MEP for the region insisted Spain had crossed Gibraltar’s “red lines” with the demand
The issue will likely hold up Brexit talks but negotiators are quietly confident the issue will be overcome, Express.co.uk has learnt.
