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Spanish parties keep sovereignty in mind
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by GIBRALTAR PANORAMA political correspondent. Both the ruling PSOE and the opposition PP party agree on one thing: That discussions on Gibraltar's sovereignty should not be forgotten.
This is a new element that crops up since the tripartite process was conceived, and although sovereignty was not abandoned fully, it was not envisaged that it would emerge in such a short timescale.
But this attitude from Madrid is nothing new. Similar developments have taken place in the past, with the Spanish sooner or later developing impatience over sovereignty. In the end, all that it does is to raise the temperature and the suspicions about Spain's real intentions. The same appears to be emerging at present.
The PP has been taking the lead in wanting to put the sovereignty issue on the table. The PSOE does not want to be seen as anything else, they too want to surface with the sovereignty questions -certainly they have not abandoned it, just put it to one side.
The PP has been insisting that the tripartite talks should not end up weakening the Spanish position on sovereignty. They are not keen in Gibraltar having a separate voice and vote in the tripartite talks. In the days of the Brussels Agreement, Gibraltar was allowed to have a voice, but that is less than what we have now. A voice as part of the UK delegation is just another voice, not the same as having your own voice and veto.
In practice, says the PP, Gibraltar has been given the status of nation.
Going back to sovereignty talks would not go down well in Gibraltar, and many would see it as a threat to the tripartite talks. It is obvious that neither the
UK nor Gibraltar government envisage a possible return to sovereignty talks, which clearly would be premature for some and undesirable for others.
The aim of the tripartite talks was seen as a means of defusing the situation and creating trust that would allow other issues being tackled.
But there are many people 'in Gibraltar who dislike the idea of having a process which aims to take Gibraltar where it has never wanted to go.
If the Gibraltar issue is now 'going to get embroiled once again in Spanish politics, with sovereignty on the agenda, the situation can only lead to renewed tension.
The Brussels Process is rearing its head...
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