FRI AM NOV 23

Brexit Vote
The European Commission yesterday agreed on the draft Political Declaration on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom that is due to be signed off on Sunday at a European summit.
The text that has been sent to the other 27 member states of the EU excludes any reference to the issue of Gibraltar.
This week both the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the foreign minister, Josep Borrell, made clear they would not sign off on the UK’s draft withdrawal agreement on Sunday if the text was not modified to make clear that negotiations on the future of the EU-UK relationship would not include Gibraltar.
Instead, Madrid wants separate, bilateral negotiations on Gibraltar after Brexit, covering issues such as the price of tobacco products, cross-border workers, environmental concerns and cooperation on police and border control issues. Madrid and London this week reached preliminary agreements on these points.
Sunday’s vote only needs a majority but the EU Commission is hoping for a unanimous result.
MW
Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo has said he is willing to discuss directly with the Spanish government their bilateral relations after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
But Mr Picardo warned yesterday that the sovereignty of the British territory is non-negotiable.

Drug Bust
A GUARDIA Civil operation led to the break-up of a drug sales operation run by a family clan.
An Operation was launched in May when the Guardia Civil became aware of the family in El Ejido, Almeria.
Officers carried out discreet surveillance over a number of months and At the beginning of November carried out searches of two properties, finding air guns and detonators, amounts of hashish and nearly €11,000 euros in cash, as well as various implements used for measuring out drug doses.
Five members of the family were arrested.

Skiing Early
Andalucia’s favorite ski resort will officially open for the festive season this weekend a week ahead of schedule .. the Sierra Nevada resort is set to open for Christmas tomorrow.
The Granada mountain and ski resort boasts 9 ski lifts and some 43.5km of trails.
With 110km of pistes it’s famous for being a place where you can ski in the morning and sunbathe on the coast in the afternoon.
The resort is one of Europe’s most popular ski resorts.