The UK confirms its “steadfast support” for Gibraltar in negotiations on the agreement with the European Union

The UK government ratified this week commitment She called for reaching an agreement with the European Union on Gibraltar “as soon as possible”, although she reiterated that there was no treaty that threatened its independence. sovereignty.

This statement comes as part of the government's response to the investigation committee's report Committee of the UK Delegation to the European Union, Posted last Tuesday.

“The UK, working closely with the Government of Gibraltar, is committed to concluding a UK-EU treaty on Gibraltar as soon as possible. The UK is steadfast in its support for Gibraltar and will not accept anything that would lead to a sovereignty compromise.” This came in response to Parliament.

The fourteenth round of talks was held from December 13 to 14, 2023 It was reached without agreementSo the two parties are still waiting to agree on a new round, in this case it will be the fifteenth.

In the last round of talks, “some basic pillars for the next stage.” an agreement” – As confirmed by community sources – it came eight months after it was postponed due to the electoral processes that took place in the country Spain And Tarek mountain.

In November 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Jose Manuel AlbarezIt was stated that the governments of the United Kingdom and Spain were close to reaching an agreement on the colony’s status, while the Prime Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, stressed in his New Year’s message that “the question of Gibraltar’s future relationship with the European Union” would be resolved in the first half of the year. 2024 (given that elections will be held to renew the EU institutions).

As the UK's overseas territories are not included in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and the EU, the committee also recommended that the government continue to try to secure their coverage in a similar agreement. However, the government does not commit to this in its response.

However, the response appreciates that the Overseas Territories are “an extremely valuable part of the whole UK family” and that it continues to use its diplomatic resources to help the Overseas Territories engage with the EU. For example, it notes that it supports governments of overseas territories to access EU markets and open local offices in Brussels for Bermuda and Bermuda. Tarek mountain.

Gibraltar is not included in Great withdrawal agreement It was agreed by Brussels and London in 2020. It requires a separate agreed solution that needs to be approved by Spain. This is what is being negotiated to achieve the ultimate goal of creating a “zone of shared prosperity” between the two regions “Tear down” the fenceWhich would establish controls at the port and airport Schengen.

The negotiations are being conducted on the basis of the so-called New Year's Eve Agreement, a non-binding but essential agreement reached by Spain and the United Kingdom to strengthen the future treaty, which began to be negotiated in October 2021.