British Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron is set to travel to Brussels on Friday for negotiations concerning Gibraltar’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU. Joining him will be Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.
The discussions are expected to focus on managing Gibraltar’s border, a critical issue given its location at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain. Despite the importance of the talks, a final agreement is not anticipated at this stage.
Mr. Picardo expressed optimism about the talks, hoping they would pave the way for progress while safeguarding Gibraltar’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and control.
Gibraltar, as a British overseas territory, faces unique challenges due to the UK’s decision to leave the EU in 2016. The absence of a permanent solution has led to ad hoc arrangements, with negotiations ongoing since October 2021.
Concerns have been raised about potential concessions, including the possibility of EU border checks in Gibraltar and joint UK-Spanish management of its airport. However, Foreign Office Minister David Rutley emphasized that the UK government would not agree to any terms compromising sovereignty and would only proceed with options acceptable to the Government of Gibraltar.