The meeting held this Thursday between the Foreign Ministers of Spain and England, Jose Manuel Albares And David CameronIt is finished, after six hours of negotiations and despite the optimism expressed by the head of Spanish diplomacy at the meeting, without agreement about status Gibraltar after Brexit. However, both parties assured that there was “important progress”that the agreement is “closer” and the goal is to seal future agreements “as soon as possible”.

The vice president of the European Commission also participated in the meeting, just like a month ago when they first met in the same format, Maros Sefcovicand chief minister Batu, Fabian Picardo. “Today’s discussions took place in a constructive atmosphere, with important progress and new agreements. All parties are confident that an agreement is close and will work together closely and quickly on outstanding areas towards a comprehensive agreement between the EU and the UK. “The meeting reaffirmed their shared commitment to achieving an EU-UK agreement,” said The joint statement approved by Brussels, London, Madrid and Gibraltar.

The aim, as reflected in the text, is to “provide confidence, security and legal stability” to the residents of the region “by protecting and improving the economy, trade, mobility, environment and social welfare while maintaining the legal position. all parties” they said, urging “remain in close and constant contact.” This is the second four-way meeting since April 12, when the same four parties crossed the doors of Berlaymont, the headquarters of the European Commission, to try to deliver final push on a never-ending agreement. On that occasion, the meeting lasted much shorter, around three hours, and ended with an agreement on this matter “general political line” the most sensitive element of negotiations: the airports, asset management and mobility (referring to border control.

Constructive and positive meeting

This Thursday is a priori called the last day. An example is Minister Albares’ optimism when entering the Commission building. “I don’t see any obstacles on our part to be able to move towards an agreement (on Gibraltar),” he stressed, confident of the possibility of reaching a deal “definitively” this Thursday. “We have achieved important progress and we continue to build and advance the political path agreed on April 12,” he said after a meeting he described as “constructive and positive.” “We have agreed, as we did on April 12, to maintain the same way of working,” he continued.

This means that until the agreement is completely completed, do not provide details “to protect what has been agreed and continue to advance aspects that still require further technical development,” he said without explaining what obstacles were preventing the agreement from being reached. white smoke in Brussels. “It’s no good for one party that we want to address it and the other party rejects it. It is simply a matter of bringing positions closer to the final point (…) There is no issue in which any of the parties refuses, excludes or there is a frontal refusal to reach an agreement. “In some aspects we still need greater technical position adjustments,” he stressed.

Commissioner Sefcovic also did not want to specify what the obstacles were and only stated that he hoped for a solution “as soon as possible,” said the man from Slovakia. “There is no deadline but tomorrow we will continue working,” Albarres confirmed that, as he said, they would hold “permanent meetings” at all levels. “It is clear that we have all expressed our strong commitment to the ultimate goal.” namely reaching an agreement on a shared prosperity area with Gibraltar, the Campo de Gibraltar, and creating a new relationship based on trust and prosperity.”

In late December 2020, Spain and the UK concluded a pre-agreement to allow the implementation of the EU’s Rock policies and programs allowing the fence to be closed while a future agreement is negotiated after the UK leaves the EU (despite the Rock voting overwhelmingly against). That continues to be the goal, as Albares reiterated, a few days ago in the presence of the mayor Campo de Gibraltar to guarantee the transit of the 15,000 Spanish workers who cross the Rock every day and achieve “the well-being of 300,000 Andalusian citizens and thousands of cross-border workers who represent more than 50% of the workforce at the Rock’s.”