Rabat – An important agreement has been signed by the UK, EU, Spain, and the Gibraltarian governments, which brings to a conclusion one of the last issues of Brexit.
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory with a population of approximately 34,000. It covers 2.6 square miles in area and is located on a headland at the southern tip of Spain.
The territory has been a British possession since 1713, when it was ceded from Spain, although Spain still claims the territory.
During a referendum in 2002, the Gibraltarians voted categorically not to hold joint sovereignty with Spain, voting 99% against.
However, the territory has been a constant issue of friction between the UK and EU since the nation decided to leave the Bloc during the 2016 Brexit Referendum.
This disagreement has led to discussions between the British, Spanish, and European governments since Britain left the Union in 2020.
The British Prime Minister Kier Starmer met the European Council President Antonio Costa in London in May. During this meeting, the two nations moved to reset their relationship since the fall of the Conservative government in 2024. The two parties said at this point that they were not very far away from concluding a separate deal in Gibraltar.
The main disagreement has been about the special status of Gibraltar within the Schengen Zone with checks at border crossings. This is due to an estimated 15,000 people crossing from Gibraltar into Spain every day.
David Lammy arrived in Gibraltar on the evening of June 10 to hold diplomatic meetings with the Gibraltarian government, as the UK had stated they wouldn’t form an agreement without the territory’s permission.
The agreement was reached in the afternoon of June 11 in Brussels. This agreement included joint border checks at the Gibraltar airport and ferry terminal. This means that everyone who enters the country will be checked by British and Spanish officials.
This agreement allows Spain to oversee the Schengen border entry procedures at Gibraltar’s points of entry, similar to how French officials are allowed to operate checks at London’s St Pancras for the Eurostar.
However, immigration and law will remain under the sole authority of the Gibraltarian government, which oversees governance in the territory.
David Lammy stated, “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.” He also confirmed the UK’s commitment and continued support for the territory.
The chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, welcomed the agreement, saying it would “bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier.”
This new and historic agreement brings to a close one of the final deadlocks from Brexit and will have a big impact on UK-EU relations.
