Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo will be questioned by
the European Scrutiny Committee on the prospects for a treaty
between the EU and the UK in respect of Gibraltar.
Gibraltar was not included in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation
Agreement and has been relying on temporary, informal
arrangements to keep open its critical artery with Spain, through
which thousands of workers commute and vital food and goods
arrive every day. Negotiations are currently underway to secure a
binding international treaty, with the aim of reaching an
agreement before the end of the year. They are happening in
parallel to negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In the session, MPs will explore Gibraltar’s position on the EU’s
negotiating objectives, plans for EU agency Frontex to police the
border with Spain as well as preparations if no deal is reached.
Gibraltar’s Deputy Chief Minister and the Attorney-General will
also give evidence.
A letter from UK’s Europe
Minister , published by the Committee
last night, highlights several areas where the EU’s negotiating
position on Gibraltar ‘directly conflicts’ with the joint
framework for post-Brexit arrangements agreed between the UK,
Gibraltar and Spain at the end of December 2020. In her appearance before the Committee
in September, the Minister said she was working with
Gibraltar on a possible ‘non-negotiated outcome’.
Wednesday 24 November 2021, Witnesses at
14.30:
Fabian Picardo QC MP, Chief Minister of
Gibraltar
Dr Joseph Garcia MP, Deputy Chief Minister of
Gibraltar
Michael Llamas CMG QC, Attorney General of
Gibraltar
