In an agreement on Gibraltar’s regime, they reached, and according to their joint announcement.
The Gibraltar regime of the British enclave at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, which has been under British sovereignty since the 18th century – and the way in which the border with Spain has been a standing point for disagreement, which has intensified since 2016.
Talks on the rules governing the Spanish and Gibraltar border continued since Britain left the European Union in 2020.
The British side
The British Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that the agreement would protect UK sovereignty and its military autonomy, as well as Gibraltar’s financial future.
The British Foreign Ministry also said that the agreement, among other things, will provide a practical solution to avoid the need for what it described as “aggravating controls” and long border delays.
“I am pleased to finalize a political agreement that will bring legal security to the people of Gibraltar, their businesses and those across the region based on border stability,” said Fabian Picardo, Prime Minister of Gibraltar.
What is foreseen
According to what was known, Spanish and Gibraltar police will be responsible for the perimeter of «Rock ”(as the area is called), the airport and the surrounding area. Those arriving at Gibraltar airport will show their passports to both Gibraltar’s border guards and their Spanish colleagues.
The British Foreign Ministry said the system would follow a similar model with French police operating at London’s St. Pankras Station, from which the Eurostar rail service is executed that connects Britain with mainland Europe.
This was one of the most sensitive issues after Brexit to integrate Gibraltar into the Campo de Gibraltar (the Spanish side), and this means that it was in practice integrated into the free traffic zone. This is how the famous “fence” with Spain remains open, which in fact remained open despite Brexit to facilitate the movement of 15,000 employees entering Gibraltar daily.
Reactions to sovereignty
Madrid preferred this option, which allows for an “open Gibraltar in Spain”, rather than opening up issues such as claiming sovereignty, which was a non -negotiable spot for London. The issue of sovereignty is particularly important.
Of course, this position of the Sanchez government has been strongly criticized by the far -right as concession of sovereignty (there is also a criticism of the United Kingdom for the opposite reasons). However, according to more specifically, the formulation of the pact is structured in such a way that Morocco cannot rely on it to raise its traditional territorial claims in Ceuta and Melilla (the two Spanish exists in Africa).
The agreement was announced after a meeting held in the Belgian capital between the European Commissioner, responsible for Brussels’ relations with London, Maros Sefcovic, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, his British bond.
