Becky Morton
Political reporter
fcdo
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy and Prime Minister Gibraltar Fabian Picardo met on Wednesday
The UK has agreed to a contract with the European Union for Gibraltar’s status after Brexit.
Since the UK left the EU in 2020, discussions have been underway over rules governing the border between Spain and the UK’s overseas territories.
The UK said the agreement would avoid the need to check people and goods across the Spanish border of Gibraltar.
For travelers arriving at Gibraltar Airport, passport checks are performed by Gibraltar and Spanish officials.
Spanish border officials could be denied admission as they could continue their trip to the Spanish and EU free travel areas without further checking UK arrivals.
This is similar to the system for Eurostar passengers at St. Pancras Station in London. There, travelers pass through British and French passport management before boarding the international train.
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy said the deal protected British sovereignty and supported Gibraltar’s economy.
He added that the “breakthrough” provided a practical solution, “this government inherited the situation from the last government that threatened Gibraltar’s economy and lifestyle.”
Prime Minister Gibraltar Fabian Picardo also welcomed the agreement, saying, “I will protect future generations of Gibraltarians in the UK, and have no effect on British sovereignty in order to provide Gibraltar’s desires and needs.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer agreed in a call Wednesday evening that the deal “unleashes important opportunities to strengthen relations between the UK and Spain.”
Downing Street said Sir Kiel called Picardo to congratulate him on the deal and thanked him for “his years of hard work, commitment and leadership reaching an agreement.”
Gibraltar is a 2.6-square-mile headland in southern Spain.
Britain has taken sovereignty over Gibraltar since 1713, and this is in dispute by Spain.
Territory status and the status of the border with Spain are important points and remained unresolved since Brexit.
An estimated 15,000 people cross the Spanish border in Gibraltar every day for work and leisure.
Currently, Gibraltar residents can use their residence cards to cross without having to stamp their passports. Spanish citizens can use government ID cards to cross.
However, this has led to major delays at the border with concerns that it will end with the introduction of an EU entry/exit system later this year.
The UK said all sides agreed to a clause that made it clear that the final treaty would not affect the sovereignty of the territory of Britain.
He also said there is full operational autonomy for the British military facility in Gibraltar, where the airport is operated by the Ministry of Defence and hosts the RAF base.
Public opinion in Gibraltar, with a population of around 32,000, is in favor of maintaining British sovereignty. In the latest referendum held in 2002, nearly 99% of voters rejected the proposal to share sovereignty with Spain.
The breakthrough happened before the pair headed to Brussels for discussion with the EU and Spanish ministers, after Ramie had previously met with his cabinet in Picardo and Gibraltar.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez and EU trade chief Maros Sevkovic both praised the deal as “historic”, and Sevkovic said it would “strengthen a new chapter” of EU-UK relations.
According to the UK government, all parties are committed to finalizing the final decision of the UK-EU treaty text on Gibraltar as quickly as possible.
However, Reform Britain criticized the contract, and Deputy Leader Richard Tess said:
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Pretty Patel said her party would look into the full legal texts of the treaty to see if it met their “red line.”
“The government’s Conservative Party, and now opposed parties, have always made clear that Gibraltar’s sovereignty and rights are fully protected, and that the support of the government and the people of Gibraltar must be protected, and that constitutional arrangements must be protected.
“Gibraltar is British and, given the Labour record of surrendering our territory and paying for privilege, we will carefully review all the details of the contracts we have reached.”
Liberal Democratic foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller said the agreement “has brought the UK one step closer to an appropriate trade deal with the EU,” but added that “it is important that Parliament has the opportunity to scrutinise the details.”
