The European Union, Spain and United Kingdom They have arrived this Wednesday at a historical agreement on the status of Gibraltar behind him Brexitsomething that was still pending from the British output of the EU now more than five years.
“The main objective of the future agreement is guarantee the future prosperity of the entire region “says the joint statement of all parties in which the Elimination of “physical barriers, checks and controls on people and goods that circulate between Spain and Gibraltar”.
In the final negotiations on this agreement, the Foreign Minister participated, José Manuel Albares; His British counterpart, David Lammy; the main minister of Gibraltar, Fabián Picardo; and the European commission responsible for relations with the United Kingdom, Maros Sefcovic.
With this agreement, according to SEFCOVIC, they feel The bases of Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU Now that the United Kingdom is no longer a member state of the block. “It benefits everyone and reinforces a new chapter in the relationship”he has sentenced.
“The road is now clear so that the negotiating teams quickly finalize the complete legal text and proceed with the respective internal procedures leading to the firm and ratification of the future agreement (…) The parties are confident that this agreement will favor prosperity and provide confidence, legal certainty and stability to the lives and property of the population of the entire region, “ The statement signed by Brussels, London and Madrid says.
The agreement does not enter the dispute over the sovereignty of the rock and both parties ensure that “safeguard the respective legal positions of Spain and the United Kingdom in matters of sovereignty and jurisdiction.”
But, What does this agreement imply? Well, after this agreement, the Physical gate that separates Spain from Gibraltar and will be the Spanish authorities that are responsible for managing the Controls both in the port and at the region airport, in addition to allowing free circulation of goods and people.
The gate
The most significant change that will occur thanks to the signing of this agreement is the Disappearance of the physical gate that separates Spain from Gibraltar. Border controls will be carried out by Spanish authoritiesas a European part, both in the port as in him airport.
“With this agreement the gate will disappear, the last wall of continental Europe and The freedom of circulation of people and goods is guaranteed “says the statement.
According to government data, 15,000 people move daily between both territories and there are about 300,000 residents of the area that will benefit from this.
Spain will carry out the controls
Who was going to manage the controls in the port and the airport after the suppression of the gate was one of the main obstacles of the agreement, but finally these They have remained in the hands of the European bloc, that is, from Spain.
According to the joint declaration, it has been agreed that these border controls They are held at the port and the Gibraltar airport and that “by the EU, Spain will carry out the complete Schengen controls.” By the United Kingdom “Complete Gibraltareños controls will continue to be carried out as until now” and “immigration and law and order in Gibraltar will continue to be Exclusive competence of the Gibraltareñas authorities “.
Free circulation of goods
Thanks to this agreement, the Free circulation of goods and it has also been announced that a process of Fiscal Convergence “That guarantees fair competition for all in the area.”
This will imply that Gibraltar has to Apply taxes indirect and special to products such as tobacco that “will avoid distortions and contribute to the prosperity of the entire region.”
Europe can use the airport
The use of Gibraltar airport It was another of Spain’s main claims in this negotiation and, finally, has been satisfied. This, according to Albares, “It will benefit the entire region, allowing both British and Spanish and European commercial flights,”.
London has also highlighted the positive aspect of this decision, highlighting “the opportunity to operate flights from Gibraltareño airport to destinations in the EU, increasing connectivity of Gibraltar with the rock and improving his prosperity. “
