Tomorrow, the House of Lords EU Committee will hear
from the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on the in-principle
agreement reached between Gibraltar, the UK and Spain on New
Year’s Eve.
The Committee will question the Chief Minister
on how the in-principle agreement is likely to affect Gibraltar’s
relationship with Spain and the EU. The session will also cover
how the agreement came about, what the process is for the
agreement coming into effect and what the agreement means for
Gibraltar’s sovereignty.
The remote evidence session will take place
from 4pm on Tuesday 19 January 2021 and can be
viewed on parliamentlive.tv
Witnesses:
-
Hon Fabian Picardo QC
MP, Chief Minister of
Gibraltar
Questions likely to be asked in the
session include:
-
How did the in-principle agreement reached
with Spain on New Year’s Eve come
about?
-
What are the key principles underpinning the
agreement, and Gibraltar’s future relationship with Spain and
the EU?
-
What is the timetable and process for giving
legal effect to the agreement?
-
What is the basis for Gibraltar, the UK and
Spain’s mutual confidence that the agreement is without
prejudice to their respective positions on sovereignty and
jurisdiction?
-
What are the implications of the agreement to
remove all physical barriers between Gibraltar and the Schengen
area?
-
How will the proposed bespoke customs union
between the EU and Gibraltar operate in practice, and what
practical differences will be felt at the border with
Spain?
-
What, if any, disruption has there been on
the ground since 1 January in terms of the fluidity of the
border and cross-border cooperation with Spain, and what
bridging arrangements are necessary before the new agreement
comes into force?
-
What impact will this agreement have on
Gibraltar’s relationship with the UK, in particular in terms of
the movement of goods, people and
services?
