GIBRALTAR’s two most sensible political leaders are in Madrid, Spain, “for technical and practical talks” as hopes grow for a deal that resolves the territory’s long-term post-Brexit deal.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Joseph Garcia departed early Wednesday morning for the Spanish capital.
This follows the fourteenth negotiation held in London on 13 and 14 December, in which the EU, the UK and Spain tried to make progress on the EU treaty.
The Rock’s government said it “remains fully committed to achieving a secure treaty for Gibraltar. “
But it added that it wants such an agreement to be ‘in line with the New Year’s Eve Agreement that avoids any party having to cede on fundamentals’.
Picardo announced the framework agreement in a minute on 2019.
This ensured that Gibraltar could have a long term independent of the wishes of the mainland United Kingdom.
Picardo explained that the Treaty of Gibraltar had to be different from Britain’s, as the country is connected to the EU via land and employs more than 15,000 people living in Spain’s neighbouring Andalusia region.
But over the last year, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has put forward a deal that looks very different to the New Year’s Eve Agreeement.
He proposed the joint use of the airport and other issues that were not initially included in the “pre-agreement. “
The UK helped Gibraltar achieve a “safe and secure” but also “beneficial” agreement.
If agreed, it could see both Spain and the Rock remove frontier checks at the land border.
Instead, Frontex officials would make their way to Gibraltar via air and sea ports.
But negotiations have dragged on for more than two years after delays caused by COVID-19, and all sides must reach an agreement or settle for a closed border situation.
Picardo explained that the “goodwill” of the Christmas season can help move negotiations forward and that all parties may soon be in a position to sign the EU treaty.
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