Gibraltar No Deal
Gibraltar’s British status is to be protected under a tax deal which will apply even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it has been claimed.
A source with ties to the Rock’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo says an agreement has been reached between the British, Gibralta and Spanish authorities.
The deal will reportedly remain sacrosanct even in a no-deal situation, despite previous attempts by the Spanish to use this as a bargaining lever.
British Media reported The agreement is expected to be signed today.
The British and Gibraltese governments have declined to comment on the agreement.
Spain said on Friday it would allow British citizens living in the country to stay on if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal, giving them until the end of 2020 to apply for permanent residency and making it automatic for many.
Venezuela.
Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said The European Union will “apply political pressure” on Venezuela to hold fresh elections and break its current political deadlock .
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido has been recognised as interim leader by some 50 countries, including Spain, but President Nicolas Maduro remains in power following his controversial re-election last year.
There is now “a clear deadlock” in Venezuela and so the European Union will decide on its next steps. once conclusions have been received from the European and latin American “international contact group” mission to the country.
In the meantime the European Union will “apply political pressure” for fresh elections to be held in Venezuela, Borrell said.
Olive Tarff
SPAIN’S Commerce Minister has called on the World Trade Organisation to help protect its olive industry after the US hiked import duties.
Reyes Maroto said Madrid had appealed to the WTO following the US’ increase of tariffs on black olives.
The goods are among those US President Donald Trump slapped higher import taxes on as part of his protectionist economic policy.
Maroto said the olive tariffs had already had a big impact on the industry in Spain, particularly in Sevilla Province.
The Spanish Association of Exporters and Producers of Table Olives said the sector lost €23.8 million in earnings from exports to the US from January to November last year.
Immigration
The government says that unauthorized immigration by sea has dropped in the last month, falling to 930 people arriving in February compared to over 4,000 in January.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said “the upward trend of recent months has been broken.”
Spain became the leading entry point into Europe for illegal migrants last year, when it received over 57,000 people by sea compared to 21,000 in 2017.
Footballers Wanted.
CALPE town hall has launched an initiative to try to recruit young footballers to their newly-formed training schedule for the women’s team.
Training takes place every Monday evening from 6.30 pm, with more information available from the sports department at the town hall.