UK, Spain close in on post-Brexit deal for Gibraltar

Britain is close to agreeing on a new treaty on Gibraltar’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union after successful talks in Madrid with the Spanish government.

Negotiations to redefine Gibraltar’s relationship with the EU following Britain’s exit from the bloc have been taking place on two tracks: one between Spain and the UK, which is responsible for Gibraltar’s foreign policy, and more recently between the European Commission and the British government, according to Politico.

Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares said on December 14 evening that the Spanish and British governments had agreed to make “progress as fast as possible” in ironing out their differences over visa-free travel between people from British-owned Gibraltar and the Schengen area.

This would mitigate the consequences of a hard Brexit for people living on the Rock, and for those commuting every day from the Spanish side of the border for work.

“Spain is ready to conclude a deal”, Albares said during a joint press conference with his British counterpart James Cleverly, following a hastily-arranged meeting between the two men in Madrid. Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo attended via teleconference.

The discussion focused on a detailed proposal unveiled by the Commission last month — and endorsed by Spain — to remove the fence at the land border with Gibraltar and relocate customs checks to Gibraltar’s airport and port. The fence has been the source of many historical disputes.

“We are closer [to a deal] now than at the beginning of the meeting,” Albares said, adding that the talks are “advancing at a good pace”.

Shortly before the press conference, a radiant Albares was recorded on camera shaking hands with Cleverly at the Viana Palace in Madrid, telling him: “We got it, we managed to get it done”.

Cleverly told the press conference there has been “a lot” of progress in the Gibraltar talks but there remain some areas of disagreement.

He said he was sure it would be “possible” to reach a treaty that respects both UK’s and Spain’s respective positions on Gibraltar’s sovereignty, adding, that “We are fully invested in agreeing on a deal as soon as possible”.