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Dr Joseph Garcia said the European Council had betrayed Gibraltars residents, who voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU in last Junes historic referendum.

A draft document on the blocs Brexit strategy said no agreement on the EUs future relationship with the UK would apply to Gibraltar without the consent of Spain, giving Madrid a potential veto.

In the guidelines, the European Council identified future arrangements for the Rock as one of its 26 core principles.

It wrote: After the UK leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the UK may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without agreement between Spainand the UK.

GETTYEXPRESS

The European Council bent over backwards to give Spain something over and above anyone else

Dr Joseph Garcia

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr Garcia, Gibraltars Deputy Chief Minister and Brexit spokesman, regarded the EUs actions as a slap in the face for Gibraltars residents, who have relied on the bloc to protect them from Madrids aggressive attempts to snatch back sovereignty of the region.

He said: Let me say, 96 per cent of Gibraltar voted to remain in the European Union, and I think circumstances were driven because we have a large hostile neighbour next door that is trying to take Gibraltar over and European Union law has provided a degree of protection for Gibraltar against the different excessive governments in Madrid.

"For example, border fluidity which the European Commission at the request of David Cameron got involved in 2013. They sent inspectors to the border many times since then to make sure the Spaniards behave themselves in terms of the intensity of controls being conducted on people using the border at that particular time and were facing queues of up to eight hours waiting to cross in our direction.

I think that is something we should bear in mind, and why a large proportion of Gibraltar voted to remain in the European Union. "Weve come to terms with the fact that the UK is leaving the European Union and Gibraltar is now leaving with it.

There was one particular area which annoyed many people here, and that is the fact the European Council decided to give Spain a second veto, in what is known as Clause 24 in the Councils negotiating guidelines, over the application of a future relationship agreement between the UK and the EU, and the application of that agreement to Gibraltar."

Dr Garcia said the decision by the European Council to allow Spain the apparent veto on Gibraltars inclusion in any Brexit deal caused considerable concern and annoyance on the Rock.

He said: That was a slap in the face to the 96 per cent who voted to remain in the European Union, that is very much how people see it and people were extremely annoyed by that. What is the practical effect of that decision?

"Well, at the moment all member states of the European Union have a veto on anything relating to Brexit including Spain as well. What Spain secured in those guidelines is a second veto in relation to the application of the UK-EU deal to any aspect of the deal it is unhappy with, and that veto will affect Gibraltar only not the United Kingdom or the wider European Union.

That is totally unacceptable to Gibraltar, and we think it is absolutely disgraceful. It may have undermined the 96 per cent support the EU obtained in the referendum at this time last year.

Madrid, in the wake of Britains decision to leave the EU, said it would only consider agreeing to a deal involving Gibraltar if Madrid is given joint sovereignty of the Rock.

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Gibraltar has its own political system that makes many decisions within the territory but issues like defence and foreign affairs are determined by the UK Government in London

In February, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy offered to assume joint sovereignty over Gibraltar, so its residents were not left without access to the EUs single market.

He said: I am absolutely convinced that we will reach an agreement so that these people will not be affected by political decisions.

Dr Garcia accused the European Council of bending over backwards to help Madrid in its desperate and aggressive attempts to take control of Gibraltar.

The Deputy Chief Minister said: It was something that caused considerable concern in Gibraltar, and also considerable annoyance.

People were not happy to see the European Council bend over backwards and give Spain something over and above what the other member states of the European Union are going to have.

The wording of the veto says it applies to any future agreement between the UK and the European Union, which suggests to us it doesnt apply to the exit deal we were talking about earlier.

That in itself is totally unacceptable because citizens of Gibraltar are EU nationals.

"The European Union likes to go around the world preaching about human rights, democracy and the defence of minorities this is actually a case where they have betrayed the human rights and legitimate expectations of people who live in Gibraltar.

All EU citizens who live in Gibraltar expected to be treated in the same way as EU citizens who live anywhere else. They had the right to ask for a veto if they want to, but the Council should not have bent over backwards and agreed to a Spanish veto.

Speaking after triggering Article 50, Theresa May vowed to defend the interests of Gibraltar, insisting she will not enter into negotiations over the Rock's sovereignty.

The Prime Minister said: "We are absolutely steadfast in our support of Gibraltar, its people and its economy.

"Our position has not changed. We have been firm in our commitment never to enter arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes, nor to enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

"The letter is a notification in relation to our withdrawing from the European Union. Gibraltar is not a separate member of the EU, nor is it a part of the UK for the purposes of EU law, but we are clear that it is covered by our exit negotiations.

"We have committed to involving Gibraltar fully in the work that we are doing. We have been having regular discussions with the Government of Gibraltar, and we will continue to work with them in the future."

Express.co.uk have contacted the European Council for comment.

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'Absolutely disgraceful' Gibraltar furious at EU for helping Spain SNATCH the Rock - Express.co.uk

Albanians are heading to the polls on June 25 for parliamentary elections as the country looks to bolster its democratic credentials ahead of potential European Union membership talks.

The ruling Socialists and the rival Democrats are the leading parties looking to gain an outright majority in the parliament of the NATO-member country of 2.9 million people.

The country gained EU candidate status in 2014, but movement has been slowed by its perceived lack of reforms, including those involved with the election process.

The Democrats had threated to boycott the elections, demanding that Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama resign ahead of the vote to ensure a fair vote.

The United States and European Union brokered a deal in May between the sides that overhauled election rules and allowed the opposition greater oversight over the process.

Voting starts at 0500 GMT and ends at 1700 GMT, with preliminary results expected on June 26.

Rama, 52, will be seeking his second term as prime minister. He described the vote, which will be held in front of international observers, as a pivotal moment for the country.

"These elections in Albania will either open the door to the European Union, giving us a seat at the negotiating table, or we can again slam it shut ourselves," said Rama, whose party appears to be ahead in most polls.

Focusing on the economy, Rama has set an annual growth target of more than 5 percent, from the current 3.5 percent. He has vowed to shrink the national debt from 71 percent of GDP to the low 60s.

Ramas Socialists will be facing the center-right Democrats of Lulzim Basha. Neither of the two was able to win the 70 seats needed for a majority in the 2009 or 2013 parliamentary elections.

The 43-year-old Basha has cabinet experience and has run on a platform of low taxes and has vowed to fight corruption.

His party has promised a 9 percent flat tax, free school meals, and a revamped health system.

Both men have served as past mayors of the capital of Tirana.

Both parties are seen as pro-Western and have expressed support for the global fight against terrorism.

Basha has expressed his admiration for U.S. President Donald Trump. Rama has expressed concerns about Russian influence in the country.

Lurking behind the scenes is Ilir Meta, the face of the center-left Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI), and widely described as a kingmaker in past coalition governments.

Former Prime Minister Meta, 48, a veteran of post-Communist politics, is president-elect after being voted to the largely ceremonial post by parliament on April 28. He stepped down from the LSI as required to assume the presidency.

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Albanians Go To Polls To Elect Parliament, Bolster EU Hopes - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

European Union leaders Friday were not impressed with British Prime Minister Theresa May's initial proposal to protect the rights of millions of citizens from different countries when Britain exits the bloc.

Mays offer to agree to residency, healthcare and other social benefits to citizens from the other 27 EU countries who have lived in Britain for five years or more fell far short, according to several EU leaders at a summit in Brussels.

My first impression is that the UKs offer is below our expectations, and that it risks worsening the situation of citizens, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, told reporters Friday.

About 3 million EU citizens live in Britain and more than 1 million Britons live elsewhere in Europe.

Members of the EUs 27 remaining nations said they wanted more details from Britain after May made her pitch Thursday, on the eve of the first anniversary of the so-called Brexit referendum.

Last year, British voters favored leaving the EU by 52% to 48%. Formal negotiations over the exit started this week.

Officials working at the EU institutions in Brussels have complained that May's government is disorganized and does not have a grasp on what kind of divorce deal it is aiming for.

May has argued in favor of a hard Brexit, meaning Britain would leave the bloc and an EU customs arrangement, forcing the two sides to redraw their trade relationship and end EU citizens right to live in the UK without a visa.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker answered no when asked Friday if he had a clearer idea of what kind of exit the British government wants.

Citizens' rights is a major issue in the negotiations, which are expected to last until early 2019. EU leaders want a guarantee that their citizens living in Britain will have legal rights including residency after the breakup.

May said Friday that her offer was fair and serious. She is expected to present more details Monday when she addresses Parliament in London.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called May's proposal a good beginning.

But it was I'm trying to word this very carefully it was not a breakthrough. We have said we want to pursue this matter through good cooperation but I think what came out yesterday is that we have a very long way to go, Merkel said.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said, There are a lot of details left open.

Citizens from all 28 EU nations currently have the right to live in any of the countries without a visa. That is expected to change for people who move to Britain, and for British citizens in the rest of Europe, after the UK leaves the bloc.

The EU leaders have set two other priorities for the negotiations. They argue that the UK must pay a sum estimated to be as high as $100 billion in budget obligations before it leaves.

They also want the UK to guarantee that Brexit will not endanger peace between Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement put a stop to decades of violence between sectarian groups in the two countries.

Stupp is a special correspondent.

Read the original here:
British proposal on citizens' rights after Brexit fails to impress European Union - Los Angeles Times

With theParis Agreement, the worlddecided to take responsibility for its present and its future, by committing to preserve the very source of life: our planet and its environment.

The climate change deal is an unprecedented multilateral partnership between nearly 200 countries, supported by companies and communities across the world, to address a problem facing all of us.It's a challenge we can only tackle together and, since the beginning, Europe has been at the forefront of this collective engagement.

It also strengthened support for the poorest and most vulnerable. We see more and more people on the move, or exposed to extreme poverty, due to droughts or floods linked to climate change. For Europe, dealing with climate change is a matter of political responsibility and multilateral engagement, and a matter of security, prevention of conflicts and even radicalization.

That is why the European Union will not renegotiate the 2015 Paris Agreement. We have spent 20 years negotiating. Now it is time for action, the world's priority is implementation.

And as we address climate change with an eye on the future, we createcountless opportunities for the present by setting up new and better ways to produce and consume, invest and trade and protect lives for the benefit of all people as well as the planet.

To accelerate the global transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient future, we have started to strengthen our existing partnerships and seek new alliances, from the world's largest economies to the most vulnerable island states. From the Arctic to the Sahel, climate change is a reality today, not a remote concept of the future.

We expect all countries to uphold the Paris Agreement and put words into action by implementing their national climate plans and strengthening their efforts over time. Plans must be turned into concrete, actionable policies and measures now.

The EU is already working towards completion of the legislative and regulatory framework necessary to deliver on our goals: to reduce emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Our legislative actions cover all sectors of the economy. We are putting energy efficiency first and boosting uptake of renewable energy across the board.

Taking action on climate change goes hand-in-hand with economic growth. Take the EU's case: our emissions have fallen by 22 percent since 1990, while total EU GDP has grown by 50 percent. During this period, we have created new jobs, businesses and technologies. We are preparing our economies for the future and, at the same time, investing in making our societies more resilient to climate change, to reduce current and future risks.

We have more than two decades of experience in developing and implementing ambitious climate policies. We are ready to share our experiences and lessons learned. It's not by chance that we have already established extensive climate policy cooperation with key partners across the globe. We will also continue to provide substantial funding to support climate action in partner countries. In 2015 alone, EU support totaled 17.6 billion euros.

This November, countries will gather in Bonn for the next UN climate conference COP23 to continue to flesh out the work program for implementing the Paris Agreement. Next year, the UN climate process will be the first opportunity since Paris to look at our collective efforts to limit global warming and assess what we have done concretely to deliver on our commitments. These are key steps for turning the political agreement reached in Paris into reality.

Yet this is a challenge we can only overcome though the greatest possible involvement from the public, businesses, local communities and cities in parallel.And we are seeing an unprecedented breadth and scale of action by all of these actors.As institutions, we can plan and support the strategies needed to save our environment, but it is they that have the crucial role of turning policies into action and results on the ground.

Our new EU Consensus on Development actively promotes this role.Both enhanced cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders will be key.

Only by working together will we be able to live up to the level of ambition we have set ourselves and reap the many benefits of concerted action: lower emissions, greater energy security and efficiency, innovation-driven growth, job creation, more resilient societies and a better environment.

Paris was a defining moment in the global challenge to safeguard the planet for present and future generations.The EU is determined to not only implement the Paris Agreement, but also build strong global partnerships to ensure that diplomacy and multilateralism bring real, tangible results for our people. The world, the planet, can count on the European Union.

Federica Mogherini is the European Unions chief diplomat, serving ashigh representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice-president. Miguel Arias Caete is the EUscommissioner for Climate Action and Energy.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.

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Why the European Union is forging ahead with the Paris Agreement - The Hill (blog)

In one fell swoop, a legislative committee of the European Union Parliament has snubbed Chinas recent easing of restrictions on inbound foreign investment, rejected Beijings demand to be recognized as a market economy and established stringent requirements for the EUs possible contribution to Chinese President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

On Tuesday, the EU Parliaments trade committee overwhelmingly adopted a resolution amending the European Commissions proposed legislation on protection against dumped and subsidized imports from non-EU countries. In other words, EU lawmakers have decided to toughen the blocs rules against Chinas unfair trade and investment practices.

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Last September, the EU Commission set out a proposal to calculate anti-dumping measures against countries with significant market distortions i.e. where prices are government-determined and not market-based. New anti-dumping rules should be applied to all exporting nations regardless of whether they have market economy status. So, the old blacklist of non-market economies will be scrapped by the European grouping, and the EU Commission will investigate on a case-by-case basis, using international prices and costs as a benchmark, whether a nation (China) dumps its products or not.

The EU Commissions anti-dumping mechanism is actually a subterfuge to continue to deny market economy status to Beijing. The Asian giant became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2001. Under the related accession protocol, the EU should have recognized China as a market economy as of December 2016.

International standards and reciprocity

In addition to the EU Commissions provisions, the European Parliaments trade committee proposes that anti-dumping measures be imposed if an exporting country does not comply with international labor, fiscal and environmental standards, and discriminates against foreign investors.

The EU has 40 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures targeting unfair exports of various steel products, with 18 of them concerning imports from China, according to the EU Commission.

The EU Parliaments trade committee approved its resolution just four days after Chinas State Council had cut the number of restrictions, or special management measures, on foreign investors from 122 to 95 in the mainlands 11 free-trade zones. Sectors involved in the operation include aviation manufacturing, waterway transportation, banking services and education.

The move is viewed as an attempt to attract more foreign investment in China after last years contraction an inflow of US$133 billion, compared with $135 billion in 2015, according to the 2017 World Investment Report.

The European bloc has been repeatedly pressing Beijing to foster a friendlier investment environment on the mainland

The European bloc has been repeatedly pressing Beijing to foster a friendlier investment environment on the mainland. Earlier this month, at the 19th EU-China summit, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker underlined that while Chinese investment in the European Union increased by 77% in 2016, the flow in the other direction declined by almost a quarter.

To make a comparison, he added that EU investment in China last year was about 3% of what EU countries invested in the United States. Simply put, there is a lack of reciprocity in terms of market access between European companies that want to invest in China and Chinese firms that want to invest in Europe.

Whats more, the EUs new anti-dumping legislation has indirect implications for Belt and Road, Chinas grandiose plan to improve connectivity across Eurasia and beyond. In demanding that international labor, fiscal and environmental standards are taken into account in anti-dumping procedures, EU lawmakers ultimately question the transparency and fairness of Chinas trade and investment policies. It is worth remembering that during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in May, EU member states rejected a final summit statement on trade because it did not clearly address such issues as environmental and social standards, among others things.

Pressuring China

The anti-dumping resolution voted by the EU Parliaments trade committee has to be passed at the assemblys plenary session in July and then adopted by the European Council the EUs intergovernmental body to complete its process of approval. But the general orientation is that the new anti-dumping scheme will get the green light, as it is supported by European heavyweights such as Germany, France and Italy.

With the introduction of this new legislation, Chinas pitch to create a united front with the EU in favor of the free market and globalization, and against the protectionist wave coming from Trumpian America, amounts to wishful thinking now more than ever.

For once, the European bloc has shown unity on a delicate global issue and Beijing will have to change its trade and investment paradigm if it wants to tie the EU to its strategies. Just to begin with, ensuring a level playing field on the mainland for EU investors and more transparency for the Belt and Road initiative would be concrete steps in that direction.

Even Chinas all-weather friend Pakistan has recently dared to introduce anti-dumping measures against Chinese steel products. Perhaps, in its battle against Beijings market distortions, the EU has chances to win.

Emanuele Scimia is a journalist and foreign policy analyst. He is a contributing writer to the South China Morning Post and the Jamestown Foundations Eurasia Daily Monitor. In the past, his articles have also appeared in The National Interest, Deutsche Welle, World Politics Review, The Jerusalem Post and the EUobserver, among others. He has written for Asia Times since 2011.

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The European Union dumps China - Asia Times