He took part in the Brexit referendum and by default ceased to be part of the EU after the UK withdrew. Jack Lopresti found it shameful that the EU was trying to give Spain an effective veto over the future of British territory and ignore the will of the people of Gibraltar. [14] Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reaffirmed the UK`s commitment to Gibraltar. [15] On 18 October 11, 2018, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that he had reached an agreement with Britain, declared that the Gibraltar Protocol was "resolved" and added that the Spanish government would not oppose the UK`s exit from the EU, particularly with regard to Gibraltar as one of the British Overseas Territories and currently within the EU. [28] [29] Any dispute Spain has or may have over Gibraltar`s sovereignty no longer has any influence on a future trade deal between Britain and the EU. [29] The UK began formal withdrawal negotiations by formally announcing to the European Council its intention to leave the EU. . . .