The UK government is providing extra support and
reassurance to Overseas Territories excluded from the UK-EU Trade
and Cooperation Agreement.
FCDO Minister for the European Neighbourhood said:
With the signing of the historic UK-EU trade agreement
completed the UK Government affirms its unwavering support for
all of our Overseas Territories (OTs).
Under the Withdrawal Agreement, legislation will also come into
effect at the end of the transition period to implement the
Protocol and to safeguard the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus.
Practical and technical discussions will continue to ensure the
smooth operation of the Protocol.
The UK, in lockstep with the Government of Gibraltar, has held
extensive discussions with Spain regarding Gibraltar’s future
relationship with the EU. All sides recognised the challenging
nature of this process at the outset of talks. Although an
agreement has not yet been reached, we are continuing our
discussions with Spain in order to safeguard Gibraltar’s
interests, and those of the surrounding region. In addition, we
are also working closely with the Government of Gibraltar, in
discussion with Spain and the EU, to mitigate the effects of
the end of the Transition Period on Gibraltar, including at the
border.
Despite trying everything we could, the European Commission
refused to negotiate a future relationship that included the
OTs. We sought to
change the Commission’s position, but it declined to engage.
We remain unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding their
interests. As the UK exits the transition period, Tristan da
Cunha will continue to have tariff-free access to the EU market
for its main export, lobster.
We continue to work closely with the Falkland Islands to manage
the effects of new EU tariffs on their fish exports (including
a 6% tariff on squid) while also helping the islands – and all
of our OTs - to
maximise the benefits of our newly independent trade policy.
In addition, we will take into account any shortfalls that
arose from the end of EU funding, as we plan future UK spending
in the OTs. We will
focus this funding on the greatest needs and to deliver the
greatest impact.
The OTs are a
much-valued part of the whole British family and we will
continue to do all we can to protect their interests.
