The UK Government has today [11 June] reached a political
agreement with the EU which will secure Gibraltar's economy,
provide certainty for people and businesses in Gibraltar and
protect British sovereignty.
This government inherited a situation which left Gibraltar's
economy and way of life under threat. Gibraltar was not included
in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement negotiated by the
previous UK government following Brexit. Instead, the previous
government began negotiations in 2021 to reach a deal which has
remained unresolved until today.
Approximately 15,000 people – over half of Gibraltar's workforce
– cross the land border between Spain and Gibraltar every day.
Without a new agreement, the EU's incoming system of entry and
exit controls would have introduced a ‘hard border' under which
every individual passport was checked.
Today's agreement provides a practical solution to avoid the need
for onerous checks and long delays at the border which would have
proved ruinous for Gibraltar's economy – costing hundreds of
millions a year and placing pressure on the UK taxpayer for
fiscal support, underlining the government's commitment to
economic stability under the Plan for Change.
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, has been central
to the negotiations from the start and today's agreement has his
full backing.
Foreign Secretary said:
This government inherited a situation from the last government
which put Gibraltar's economy and way of life under threat.
Today's breakthrough delivers a practical solution after years of
uncertainty.
Alongside the Government of Gibraltar, we have a reached an
agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports
Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the
long-term once again.
I thank the Chief Minister and his Government for their tireless
dedication throughout the negotiations. The UK's commitment to
Gibraltar remains as solid as the Rock itself.”
Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo said:
I'm delighted we have finalised a conclusive political agreement
which will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its
businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability
at the frontier.
I have worked hand in glove with the UK government throughout
this negotiation to deliver the deal Gibraltar wants and needs –
one that will protect future generations of British Gibraltarians
and does not in any way affect our British sovereignty.
Now is the time to look beyond the arguments of the past and
towards a time of renewed cooperation and understanding. Now the
deal is done, it's time to finalise the Treaty.
As the only UK overseas territory which shares a border with the
EU, today's political agreement provides a practical solution for
the unique situation faced by the people of Gibraltar whose
livelihoods depend on a fluid border.
Under the agreement, there will be:
-
A clause agreed by all sides which makes explicitly clear
that the final Treaty does not impact sovereignty.
-
A fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain, without checks on
people crossing.
-
Dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar
airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials.
Immigration and law and order in Gibraltar will remain the
exclusive responsibility of Gibraltar's authorities. Spanish
officials will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of
the Schengen Area, in a model similar to French police
operating in London's St Pancras station.
-
A bespoke goods and customs model for products entering
Gibraltar across its land border, avoiding the need for
onerous checks.
-
Full operational autonomy of the UK's military facilities in
Gibraltar, which play a vital role in protecting regional
security and important trade routes.
-
The opportunity for flights to operate from Gibraltar airport
to EU destinations, increasing Gibraltar's connectivity to
the continent and improving its prosperity.
The agreement clears the way for finalisation of a UK-EU Treaty
Text on Gibraltar, which all parties have committed to complete
as quickly as possible.
Background
-
Gibraltar is a UK overseas territory located on the southern
tip of the Iberian Peninsula that was formally ceded to the
United Kingdom from Spain in 1713 under the Treaty of
Utrecht.
-
The people of Gibraltar expressed their overwhelming desire
to remain British in referenda in 1967 (99%) and 2002
(98%).
-
Negotiations for a UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar began in October
2021 under the previous UK government.
-
The final Treaty will be subject to ratification by the UK
and Gibraltar parliaments.
-
The UK
Strategic Defence Review set out the importance of
maintaining the UK military presence in Gibraltar, including
for maritime force protection operations, upholding the
sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, as well
as providing a base at a strategic location at the western
entrance to the Mediterranean to provide critical support to
UK—and allied— military objectives.
