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Vol. 4 Issue 84 www.gibraltarolivepress.com November 21st - December 4th 2018
Are the alarming levels of pollution in Gibraltar causing higher cancer rates, as has been claimed by pressure groups?
Nolotil in €500m lawsuit A CLASS action has been launched against the manufacturers and distributors of the deadly drug Nolotil. Law firm De Micco and Friends have filed the claim worth €500 million on behalf of over 200 victims claiming damages. Anyone affected by the numerous side effects of the lethal painkiller can register for free on the Mallorca-based law firm’s website. It comes after a two-year battle - launched by the Olive Press - came to an end, when the drug was banned for tourists to Spain from Britain and Ireland.
Deaths
The drug is believed to be responsible for the deaths of dozens of expats, who also now only be given the drug under strict monitoring rules, after a Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPS) ruling. The Olive Press launched an investigation after three expats died after taking the drug in 2016. The drug is banned in the UK, US and most of Europe. However, we revealed how it is readily available across the counter at various pharmacies in Gibraltar in an investigation earlier this year.
The Olive Press investigates, see Blowing in the wind, page 6
By Laurence Dollimore
SPAIN has doubled down on its threat to vote down the Brexit withdrawal agreement if there are no further assurances on Gibraltar. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said yesterday that he will vote against the UK's exit deal if the text on Gibraltar is not changed. The PSOE leader said: "As of today, if there are no changes with respect to Gibraltar, Spain will vote no to the agreement on Brexit." Madrid refuses to accept the Rock is a part of the UK despite it being an overseas territory since 1713. Downing Street hit back insisting the deal would apply to the 'whole UK family' including Gibraltar and other overseas territories. Spain is demanding that a specific opt out on any trade deal be added to the part of the divorce committing the EU to negotiate it. Speaking in Brussels, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said: “The negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU do not apply to Gibraltar... future negotiations on Gibraltar are separate nego-
It’s a no from me
Last minute Spanish U-turn puts Brexit deal in jeopardy
tiation. “And that is what must be made clear. “Until we have the future declaration and we know what it says, whether we agree or not, we are also not going to approve the withdrawal agreement.” Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said it was 'no surprise' to see Spain’s last
DIRTY SANCHEZ: Spain’s leader has reneged on the agreement with May minute intervention. He said: “The language of vetos and exclusions should be the language of the past. “It has no place in the modern Europe of today at a time when when the United Kingdom and Gibraltar are trying to build a positive future relationship with the EU.” Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said earlier this week that Madrid needed more clarity on the future status of the Rock before it can offer its full support for the UK’s deal. “There is an article that we only found out about on Wednesday,” Borrell said, following a meeting of EU’s European affairs ministers. “We want to make sure the interpretation of this text is clear
and shows that what’s being negotiated between the EU and the UK does not apply to Gibraltar.” It comes just days before Theresa May is hoping to seal the deal in a key meeting with EU leaders on Sunday. May is already struggling with euroskeptics within her own party, who see the deal as a non-starter for giving too much power to the EU. Meanwhile Labour under Jeremy Corbyn has already vowed to vote down the agreement in parliament. Adding to embattled May’s obstacles, Spain has now requested changes to Article 184 of the draft exit treaty, despite chief negotiator Michel Barnier insisting that the text agreed last week shouldn’t be
readdressed. Borrell warned that his country’s support for the deal is now contingent on the content of the political declaration on the future ties between the two sides. Sources from the meeting claim Spain argued Gibraltar is not a part of the UK, meaning any future agreement can’t apply to its territory. It also said that if the Rock wanted an extended transition period along with the UK, it would have to negotiate its own. “The future negotiations over Gibraltar are separate,” Borrell told reporters in Brussels. “Until that’s clear in the exit text and the political declaration over the future relationship, we won’t be able to agree to it.”