Gibraltar – Picture by Adam Cli through Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence.
Thursday, 31 December 2020, Gibraltar: Spain reached a provisional agreement with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar’s post-Brexit status. As part of the agreement, Gibraltar shall remain part of European Union agreements such as the Schengen area, wherein Spain shall act as ‘guarantor’ power. It is still unclear whether the free movement of people shall include the freedom of goods movement as stated in the statement by the territory’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.
Both parties, the UK and Spain, must now sign a formal agreement involving the European Commission for the latter purpose.
In the Brexit referendum of 2016, 96% of voters in Gibraltar supported remaining in the EU.
Without the deal announced with hours to spare on Thursday, Gibraltar faced entering the new year with tight controls on what for decades has been an open border with Spain.
Gibraltar has been a territory under British jurisdiction since 1713, with its citizens voting overwhelmingly, with 99% in favour, to remain under UK sovereignty at a 2002 referendum. Nevertheless Spain claims sovereignty over the territory.
For further information:
Chief Minister of Gibraltar https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/chief-ministers-statement-the-new-years-eve-in-principle-agreement-a-post-brexit-deal-for-gibraltar-9462020-6542
