The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has announced plans to resume negotiations regarding the Gibraltar agreement “as soon as possible,” following the recent change in government in the United Kingdom. He stated that the discussions would pick up from where they last left off.
Albares made these comments during a press conference in Brussels after a meeting with EU foreign ministers. He mentioned that he had engaged with the new British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, during the recent NATO summit in Washington on July 11. Both officials agreed on the importance of resuming talks quickly, although Lammy indicated that he and his new negotiation team needed some time to get oriented. Albares noted that Lammy was well-versed in the previously agreed-upon points with former Prime Minister David Cameron.
“Progress had been made prior to the snap elections in the UK, and we will continue from that point,” he added, clarifying that while high-level discussions paused, technical conversations have persisted.
Albares conveyed that both governments aim to strengthen talks at all levels, recognizing that the agreement will formalize Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU post-Brexit. He expressed optimism about concluding the agreement by the end of the year but pointed out that it’s not solely up to Spain; the European Commission also negotiates on behalf of the EU member states.
Currently, there exists “a joint proposal from the Commission and Spain,” but Albares reminded that the responsibility now lies with the UK, emphasizing that the “ball is in London’s court.”
When asked about a potential timeline for the agreement, he admitted he lacks a “crystal ball” but affirmed both he and Lammy desire to finalize the deal promptly. Earlier, on May 16, a second meeting took place between Albares, Cameron, and Maros Sefcovic, the Commission’s Vice President, along with Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo. That discussion had reportedly resulted in “significant advancements and additional areas of agreement,” with both parties feeling they were closer to resolving the matter. However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call for early elections on July 4 suspended the negotiations once again—similar to earlier events in Spain.
The ongoing negotiations are rooted in the New Year’s Eve Agreement made between Madrid and London on December 31, 2020. These talks are being conducted discreetly to avoid jeopardizing the agreement.
The ultimate goal is to establish a shared area of prosperity between Gibraltar and the surrounding region, potentially eliminating border restrictions. In exchange, controls for entering the Schengen area might be relocated to Gibraltar’s port and airport, with Frontex agents initially present at these locations. This aspect, along with the use of the airport and military base in Gibraltar, remains contentious.
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