Thousands of police to curb fuel tax protests
allies to swing more clearly behind its 300-year-old claims to sovereignty over “The Rock”, a British naval base on its southern coast that is home to some 30 000 people whose economy faces major questions after Brexit.
But demands that extensive treaty documentation recently agreed between Brussels and London be tweaked to give Spain a bigger say over its implementation in regard to Gibraltar face resistance from Britain and EU allies who are wary that the whole edifice of the long-negotiated deal might unravel.
Diplomats said there was no doubting the passion behind the Spanish arguments when advisers to the 27 EU leaders met in Brussels on Friday to prepare the summit: “The Spanish are very proud people and this is absolutely important for them,” one participant in the talks told Reuters.
“We have to have a solution. I am quite sure we will have one.”
Some in Brussels stress that Sanchez is fighting a regional election in Andalusia, the province that abuts Gibraltar, next weekend and may want to play up the issue for home consumption.
For Sanchez to force the cancellation of the summit, or drag it out beyond the morning, would incur the wrath of his peers.
May was due to meet EU chief executive Jean-claude Juncker yesterday, and diplomats say that should be the moment they confirm that the Gibraltar issue is settled. May will then meet summit chair Donald Tusk.
In Germany, a government spokesperson was confident a solution would be found in time for today’s summit. | FRANCE has deployed thousands of police to try to contain nationwide protests and road blockades by drivers angry over rising fuel taxes and Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.
Tensions have been mounting around the grassroots movement that drew more than a quarter million people a week ago to protests across France.
A new wave of protests is planned for the weekend. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner called for calm and promised tough police measures against unruly crowds.
Paris alone is deploying some 3000 security forces, notably around tourist-frequented areas like the Champs-elysees, after an unauthorised attempt last week to march on the presidential palace.
Two people have been killed and hundreds injured in the week of protests.
Authorities are struggling because the movement has no clear leader and has attracted a motley group of people with broadly varying demands. The protesters call themselves the “yellow jackets” for the neon security vests that drivers are required to keep in their vehicles.
A man caused a dramatic standoff with police on Friday when he brandished an apparent grenade at a supermarket in the western city of Angers. He was later arrested.
Most of the anger is focused at Macron, a pro-business centrist accused of indifference to the struggles of ordinary people.
Macron has defended fuel taxes as a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but promised to lay out new plans on Tuesday. |