The foreign ministers of Spain and Britain, José Manuel Albares and David Cameron respectively, will meet this Friday in Brussels with Maros Sefcovic, vice president of the European Commission, to conclude an agreement on Gibraltar’s relations with the EU after Brexit. This high-level meeting will also be attended by the Prime Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, as part of the British delegation.

According to sources close to the negotiations, the tripartite summit aims to reach a political pact after two and a half years of technical negotiations regarding The Rock’s viability after Brexit. Although the signing of the final agreement could be delayed until the text of the agreement has been polished. The importance of this meeting lies in its limited time, given that there are less than two months left until the European Parliament elections, which could halt negotiations until the formation of a new Executive Community if an agreement is not reached.

Maros Sefcovic, the commissioner in charge of the document, noted that the negotiation process was “going smoothly” after 18 rounds of technical talks. The Slovak diplomat highlighted the need for a “political assessment” of the situation, which led to the convening of the high-level political meeting.

Negotiations are in the final stages, with exchange of texts on drafting a detailed agreement covering various aspects of relations between Gibraltar and the EU. Some of the most sensitive issues include the role of Frontex and Spanish security forces in screening passengers at Gibraltar, as well as the shared use of the airport, whose ownership is disputed by Madrid and London.

Uncertainty on the Rocks

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, warned that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” However, he expressed optimism regarding the progress achieved in the last technical meeting and the nearness of agreement on the general outlines of the agreement.

In anticipation of the meeting, the Government of Gibraltar has expressed its hope of reaching a satisfactory agreement. Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, called the meeting “the highest level multilateral negotiations ever attended by the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.”

This context of uncertainty and ongoing negotiations is shared by Gibraltarians, who are concerned about the economic and labor implications. The potential for an agreement to be reached provides hope, while a lack of progress could threaten investment and jobs in the Batu area.

In connection with the recent incident with a Civil Guard patrol boat in waters near Gibraltar, local authorities have reported that they are in contact with their Spanish counterparts. While the incident has not given rise to an official diplomatic complaint, it reflects the sensitivity and complexity of relations at this important phase of negotiations. @mundiario