Albares and Picardo agreed on the construction environment and avoided discussing the details

BRUSSELS, April 12 (EUROPEAN PRESS) –

The European Union and the United Kingdom will try to finalize an agreement in the coming weeks on the framework of relations with Gibraltar, four years after Brexit and after this Friday in Brussels the parties succeeded in establishing a “common political line” on the main issues that Until now remained stuck, such as borders and airports.

“Negotiations have been held in a constructive atmosphere and significant progress has been achieved,” said a joint statement following a meeting in European capitals led by the EU’s chief negotiator, Community Vice President Maros Sefcovic; British Foreign Minister who led the British delegation, David Cameron; the head of Spanish diplomacy, José Manuel Albares, and the chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabián Picardo.

“A general political line has been agreed, including regarding airports, goods and mobility. Negotiations will continue over the coming weeks to conclude the EU-UK Agreement,” concluded the short text agreed and published on behalf of the four politicians.

Friday’s meeting was the first high-level meeting since talks began almost two and a half years ago, during which 18 rounds of contacts have been held at a technical level. This also comes a week after another Commission vice-president, Margaritis Schinas, questioned the option of reaching an agreement before the European elections held in June and thus caused discomfort to the Spanish Government.

The agreement sought by the EU and UK should resolve the ‘uncertainty’ Gibraltar has experienced in its relations with the bloc since Brexit was implemented. Brussels has been negotiating with London since October 2021 based on the so-called New Year’s Eve Agreement signed between the Spanish and British Governments on December 31, 2020.

This memorandum provides for the removal of the Fence and the de facto entry of Gibraltar into Schengen, in which case border controls should be moved to the port and airport. The UK refuses to allow Spanish agents to carry out these controls, therefore there are proposals that during the four year transition period this task should fall to the European Border Agency (Frontex).

Another of the most difficult aspects of these negotiations, about which almost no details have been revealed in the more than two years that have passed, is that of Gibraltar airport. The airfield was built on the isthmus that connects Batu to the rest of the peninsula and is disputed territory.

Spain had demanded joint use of the facility so that the entire region could benefit from it, but Britain firmly opposed this, considering it contrary to its stance on sovereignty.

ALBARES STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST ANOTHER NEGOTIATION

At the end of the meeting that lasted more than three hours, in a statement to the press, Albares stressed that this was not “just another day of negotiations.” “This is a very important day where important progress has been achieved and we have all agreed to continue working in the coming weeks to finalize the agreement,” he concluded.

The minister has confirmed that they have agreed on a “general political line, without any date” and has explained that everyone has agreed not to discuss it in detail because, as Sefcovic said a few days ago, “at the moment these negotiations are at their peak and we want to protect it and make it happen.

On the other hand, he has indicated that the Spanish Government and the European Commission, which are the parties conducting negotiations on behalf of the Twenty-Seven, are “perfectly aligned” and “in the coming weeks” all the texts we present and exchanges will always be texts in set”.

The diplomacy chief has acknowledged that he wants the agreement to “happen tomorrow”, but acknowledged that there is still “weeks of intensive work remaining.” However, he highlighted the commitment shown at the meeting to reach a conclusion as soon as possible and also the “constructive atmosphere.” “For Spain, it will not happen as soon as possible,” he said.

In line with this, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister also praised the “constructive spirit” contained in the meeting, stressing that the meeting had enabled “major progress” to be achieved but did not explain in detail what had been achieved. has been agreed and the issue is still pending “because negotiations have not yet been completed”.

“We hope that in the coming weeks we can conclude these negotiations with a legal text that reflects the general political line we accepted today,” Picardo added.

Regarding the deadline for conclusions, he limited himself to recalling that “the Commission has a life”, referring to the European elections in June that will produce a new Commission in November. “I don’t want to measure it in time,” he added, at the urging of journalists, assuring that his desire was to do everything possible for there to be a final agreement.

“I believe everyone is committed to reaching that agreement. Nothing gets in the way. “Everyone is working hard to ensure that this agreement can be realized,” he stressed. “I’m sure it will happen soon,” he stressed.