UK – Spain Historical Agreement

The Future of Gibraltar

Last minute: historic agreement between Spain and the United Kingdom for Gibraltar that will allow the fence to be demolished

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Arancha González Laya, has announced a historic last-minute agreement with the United Kingdom to “tear down” the Gibraltar Gate and pave the way towards the creation of a “zone of shared prosperity” with the Campo of Gibraltar.

By this pact, Gibraltar will be incorporated into the Schengen zone, which will allow a fluidity never seen before between the Rock and La Línea de la Concepción.

“Schengen is applied to Gibraltar with Spain as a responsible member, which makes it possible to suppress the controls between Gibraltar and Spain”

Arancha González Laya

He pointed it out in an appearance in Moncloa, before specifying that Frontex will have a role of assistance in the controls both at the port and in the airport.

The agreement comes a few hours after Gibraltar leaves the European Union with the United Kingdom and drives away the fears of thousands of citizens, especially from La Línea, who feared that a hard Brexit would occur that would have a disastrous impact on their lives.

González Laya explained that this New Year’s Eve is “the beginning of a new relationship” and has clarified that the agreement reached will serve as “the foundation of a future treaty between the EU and the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar.” El Peñón was left out of the agreement on the future relationship agreed between London and the EU.

The agreement, he specified, has already been forwarded to the European authorities so that they can draw up guidelines for the negotiation of the Gibraltar agreement, which he has hoped that it can be closed within six months.

The head of diplomacy has recognized that it has been “six months of intense work and two nights in white” before being able to reach this principle of agreement.

Furthermore, he stressed that “all this is done without prejudice to the inalienable claims” regarding the sovereignty of Gibraltar of the Spanish Government, as well as the British Government, “which have been safeguarded.”