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THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
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chequer is positive. Indeed, as mentioned, it
may even be the case that some of the meas-
ures to deliver “savings” will actually serve to
increase total costs.
The Spanish position
Following the European Council, it was noted
that the Spanish government did not participate
in any of the bilateral meetings that took place,
some 28 according to the media. Nor at any
point did the country show a clear commitment
to defend the rights of Spanish residents in the
UK (up to 800,000, according to some esti-
mates) or seek to extract any commitment from
the UK in return for the concessions made in the
agreement. The fact that the Popular Party gov-
ernment, which has not hesitated to make pop-
ulist use of the issue of Gibraltar to distract at-
tention from domestic issues, has not even
mentioned the need for the UK to meet the
commitments it has signed and to respect EU
legislation on Gibraltar and other issues has at-
tracted considerable attention in EU circles, tak-
ing even British diplomats by surprise.
Even if the Spanish government, like the ma-
jority of the country, does not want the UK to
leave the EU, not only an account of the damag-
ing effects a Brexit would have for both, but
also because of the closeness of and level of
affection between the two countries, the gov-
ernment’s strategy has been disappointing.
Spain seems determined to insist the whole
agreement is an interpretive act of primary and
secondary EU legislation, when in fact it was
equivalent to a review of the treaties, and has
appeared apathetic and shown an absolute un-
willingness to act, as if Spain was a guest or
observer at Council meetings.
The referendum on 23 June
Following the European Council in February and
David Cameron’s triumphant return to the
British Isles, there has been a deluge of opinion
polls, while Tory leaders and other major politi-
cal figures in the UK have taken up their posi-
tion in the Leave or Remain camps. The views of
the UK’s main opinion leaders and business fig-
ures –not to mention the City– will be crucial,
not only on account of their statements regard-
ing the referendum but also in terms of what
happens and is decided before 23 June on other
fundamental matters related to Europe, such as
the refugee crisis and the Eurozone.
The Eurosceptic arguments fail to recognise
the agreement for what it is: a generous offer
that has required considerable effort and that
will become a reality after the referendum, an
agreement that has been much to the chagrin
of the majority of continental Old Europe.
Similarly, it is hard to know whether Cameron’s
decision to lead the Remain campaign is good
or bad when it comes to keeping the UK in the
EU, after the damage caused to the substance,
although perhaps not the form, of the European
project. Europe and the UK have given each
other another chance, although it may be the
last. Even if he does not deserve it, we must
place our trust in Cameron to win the referen-
dum.