The British Minister for the exit of the European Union (EU), Stephen Barclay, warns of the impact of a Brexit without agreement on the Spanish economy and questions whether small and medium-sized companies in our country are prepared for that scenario. "I am surprised that the Commission says that it is fully prepared for an exit from the United Kingdom without agreement. I doubt that Spanish SMEs are," he said during a press breakfast in Madrid.

The former banker, defender of Brexit and close to the 'Vote Leave' campaign, has warned that a Brexit to the braves "will not only have negative consequences for the United Kingdom, but will affect the entire EU." Also to Spain where, he stressed, products such as "Jerez, Manchego cheese or cava would lose their tariff protections . " In addition, he has warned that the delays that would occur in the French Port of Calais can harm Spanish exports of fruit and vegetables. Something that "can wreak havoc on the economy."

The business links between our country and the United Kingdom are very close. Spain is the country with the most British residents (about 400,000) and its first tourist destination, and the island is the third market for Spanish products (behind France and Germany). The consequences of a 'hard' Brexit would affect Gibraltar, where thousands of Spaniards cross a day. "If in the end there is no agreement, my primary interest is to ensure the economy of the region," said the minister and added that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson "is very much in favor of companies."

Rooted in the safeguard

"On October 31 we leave the EU," Barclay has insisted, since he was appointed by Theresa May in November 2018. The third Brexit minister since 2016 meets Thursday in the capital with the minister of Foreign, Josep Borrell , as well as with businessmen and British citizens residing in Spain, while negotiations between London and Brussels intensify with the aim of reaching an agreement "for which there is little time left, but they are still in time to achieve".

The message regarding the negotiations with Brussels is reiterative: The United Kingdom wants an agreement, but without safeguard. London insists on the thesis but still does not delve into its proposals to save the stumbling block of the 'backstop'.

"The European Union says it wants to reach an agreement, but it has to take into account the political reality of the United Kingdom, that is, it has to be a pact that Parliament can accept. That is why the safeguard has to disappear," he said. . "It is not consistent with the agreement on Good Friday because it has not achieved the consensus of both communities in Northern Ireland. We believe that the clause can be replaced to protect the interests of both parties," he said.

Barclay has said that the United Kingdom is trapped in an area without movement: "We need a genuine negotiation with Brussels. We are committed to negotiation, but with flexibility from the EU. Boris Johnson has said about Ireland that we can be flexible and creative , but both sides have to be. "

Three years after almost 52% of British voters gave their support to the 'yes' on leaving the EU, the United Kingdom still does not consummate their divorce from Europe, after more than 45 years of membership in the bloc. After the meeting on Monday in Luxembourg between the British premier and the head of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker , the EU has given London a two-week ultimatum to present its plan for Northern Ireland. The next step will be the EU leaders' summit, scheduled for October 17 and 18, and which the British deputies set as a limit to reach an agreement or request an extension.

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