Spain's King Felipe says post-Brexit trade barriers should be minimal

 

Britain's planned exit from the EU is creating uncertainty for businesses and Brexit negotiations should seek to reduce this as well as minimising future trade barriers, Spain's King Felipe said on Thursday.

The British government, seeking to highlight confidence in the British economy, said Spanish firms had committed millions of pounds of investment to Britain to coincide with a three-day state visit by King Felipe and Queen Letizia.

Addressing business leaders in London, Felipe hailed the close ties between Britain and Spain.

But he said: "We cannot deny that the scenario originated by the UK decision to leave the EU has generated uncertainty and doubts for our companies ... We must make sure the current negotiations reduce this uncertainty to the minimum.

"It is extremely important that the future framework of our relations establishes the conditions for a close economic relationship trying to minimize future obstacles and barriers."

Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis told the event that Spain wanted a Britain that continued to be "bound together" with the rest of Europe.

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth £40 billion in 2015 and more than 400 Spanish companies are registered in Britain, the British government said.

Investment

Investments announced on Thursday included Spanish manufacturer CAF committing £30 million to build trains and trams at a new factory in Wales, creating 300 jobs, and Spanish infrastructure company Sacyr unveiling plans for a new office in London.

Spanish Trade Minister Maria Luisa Poncela said: "Our common goal should be to achieve strong and collaborative relations with the UK while trying to avoid any unnecessary damage to our trade and investment flows."

The pomp-laden state visit, which included a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday, aims to cement ties that have been strained by questions over the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar, a British territory on the southern tip of Spain.

The future of Gibraltar, captured by Britain in 1704, and its 30,000 inhabitants will be a major point of contention in the Brexit talks. The EU has offered Spain a right of veto over the territory's post-Brexit relationship with the bloc.

During an address to the British parliament on Wednesday, Felipe said he was confident Spain and Britain could work toward an acceptable arrangement over Gibraltar.

PM Theresa May's spokeswoman said the issue of Gibraltar did not come up during a bilateral meeting between the British leader and Felipe on Thursday.

"Spain are well aware of our position on Gibraltar," she told reporters. "We don't see eye to eye on this issue ... The sovereignty of Gibraltar is not up for discussion."

The pair did discuss EU citizens' rights post-Brexit, however. On Wednesday, Felipe urged the British and Spanish governments to work to ensure the Brexit agreement provided sufficient assurance and certainty for such citizens.

The EU and Britain have yet to agree on guarantees for EU citizens living in the UK and British expats living in other EU countries. More than 300,000 Britons live in Spain and more than 130,000 Spaniards live in Britain.

"(May) said we have made it a priority in the negotiations to guarantee the status of Spanish and other EU citizens living in the UK as part of a reciprocal deal," the spokeswoman said.

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