Gibraltar agreement progresses Tripartite negotiations between Spain, Great Britain and the European Union

Spain, the United Kingdom and the European Union They achieved this Friday 'Great progress' About the relationship with Tarek mountain Behind the Britain's exit from the European UnionBut they did not close the political agreement that was rumored in recent hours.

The Spanish Foreign Minister said in a joint statement: “The negotiations took place in a constructive atmosphere and significant progress was achieved.” Jose Manuel Albarez; That the United Kingdom, David Cameron; The Prime Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maros Sefcovic.

They all committed to continuing negotiations in the coming weeks “to conclude an EU-UK agreement”, after agreeing on Friday on “general policy lines, including airport, goods and mobility”.

Participants agreed that it was a “productive day” after about four hours of negotiations. The meeting reaffirmed the “shared commitment” to concluding an agreement that “guarantees a future of prosperity for the entire region.” “It will bring confidence, legal security and stability to the lives and quality of life of people across the region, without compromising the legal positions of either party.”the parties concluded in the joint statement.

Picardo: “There are weeks left”

“We are very, very, very close.” Picardo told reporters. He added at the end of the meeting: “We have finally reached a very constructive position that moves us forward.” He expected, “We are weeks away from concluding these negotiations with a legal text that reflects the general political lines that we agreed upon today.”

Picardo, who was the first to appear before the media, also highlighted… “Great progress in a very positive and constructive atmosphere” They investigated this Friday, but he apologized for not being able to give more details “because the negotiation is not over yet.”

Picardo stressed that “this is a very positive moment” and that “the negotiating teams will now continue the work that is consistent with them.” However, he was “delighted” to be able to say that he believes “this is a very positive and forward-thinking opportunity for the people I represent in Gibraltar and for all the people in rural Gibraltar, to create a new dynamic, a new relationship.”

Albaris: “Today is not just another day”

José Manuel Albarez said that “today is not just another day” in negotiations on the situation in Gibraltar after Brexit. “Today is not just another day, not just another day of negotiations. Today was a very important day Important progress has been made and we all agree on it“Once again, in the coming weeks, we will continue working to conclude the agreement,” Albares told the media after the meeting.

Albares said he believed there were still “a few weeks of work” left to finalize the agreement, but insisted that a preliminary agreement had been generally reached on Friday. “We have already reached agreements on the general policy lines at the airport, regarding cargo and movement. The head of Spanish diplomacy said: “We agreed not to go into details or provide further details about what those agreed upon political lines are.”

Andalus

Meanwhile, in Andalusia, the Spanish region bordering the Rock, the advisor to the presidency, interior, social dialogue and administrative simplification of the Andalusian military junta, Antonio Sanz, stated, “Surprise” of the Government of Andalusia “because it was not informed in any way, in any way, by the Government of Spain”And about negotiations on a possible agreement with Gibraltar, “something that never happened.” He added that what they are clear about is that “it cannot be just an agreement, it must be a good agreement.”

At the end of 2020, Madrid and London reached a last-minute framework agreement on Gibraltar, the main outcome of which is to maintain the free movement of goods and people across the border between Spain and the Rock, despite Britain's exit from the European Union. United Kingdom United Kingdom of the European Union. But talks on signing a final agreement have not yet ended.

In 2022, the Spanish government and the European Commission proposed to the UK to establish a foundation “Co-prosperity zone” with GibraltarWhere thousands of Spaniards work every day.

Schengen area

It would require the creation of such a zone That Spain assume control of the external borders of Gibraltar on behalf of the Schengen Area. It will also mean suppressing the land border between the enclave and Spain to ensure “full fluidity” of the movement of people and goods.

The rules of the Schengen Area guarantee the free movement of people and goods between the countries that make it up.. Gibraltar, which is not a sovereign state, cannot be part of the Schengen Area Therefore, it cannot control its external borders.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to the British Crown in 1713 as part of the Treaty of Utrecht, but it never stopped claiming sovereignty over it.Which led to periodic tensions between Madrid and London.