'Historic milestone': EU and UK strike political agreement on Gibraltar

Published connected 11/06/2025 - 17:11 GMT+2•Updated 18:36

The EU and nan UK connected Wednesday struck a governmental statement to guarantee nan continued circulation of group and equipment betwixt Spain and Gibraltar without immoderate beingness barriers.

European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič called it a "truly historical milestone for nan EU, including Spain, arsenic good arsenic for nan UK and Gibraltar".

He said it came aft a "successful meeting" pinch Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo.

Lammy described nan woody connected X arsenic a "practical solution which safeguards sovereignty, jobs and growth".

"We person ensured Gibraltar’s interests - arsenic portion of nan UK family - are astatine nan bosom of this agreement," he added.

The UK and Spain person been trying to scope a woody for years to guarantee that group and equipment could transverse freely over the British overseas territory's onshore separator pinch Spain. But 1 of nan remaining sticking points was how nan territory’s separator would beryllium controlled.

All sides were eager to find a deal before nan EU's caller entry/exit strategy comes into force, which is now slated for October this year. Gibraltar, which is simply a British Overseas Territory, was ceded to nan UK successful 1713, but Spain has claimed nan territory arsenic its own.

"This statement marks a earlier and aft for stability, practice and well-being, creating an area of shared prosperity betwixt Gibraltar and Campo de Gibraltar, arsenic has been our extremity each this time," Albares, who said alongside Šefčovič from Brussels, told reporters.

"With this agreement, nan fence, nan past wall of continental Europe, will vanish and nan free activity of group and equipment is guaranteed," he added.

The woody will sphere nan Schengen area, nan EU Single Market and Customs Union but region each beingness barriers, checks and controls connected persons and equipment astatine nan crossing points betwixt Spain and Gibraltar. Checks will nevertheless beryllium carried retired astatine Gibraltar's larboard and airport.

On goods, nan parties agreed connected nan principles underpinning nan early customs unions betwixt nan EU and Gibraltar, arsenic good arsenic an statement connected nan principles of indirect taxation to beryllium applied successful Gibraltar, including connected tobacco.

"The ineligible certainty, nan ineligible clarity will intelligibly amended nan business situation for nan full region," Šefčovič said.

Spain and nan UK besides agreed a caller practice model for nan speech of information, a mandatory consultation system and nan creation of a financial system to beforehand economical and societal development, employment and cohesion betwixt nan 2 sides.

The afloat ineligible matter still needs to beryllium finalised by negotiating teams and will past beryllium submitted to nan various soul procedures required by nan various parties earlier being ratified.

Šefčovič said he is "absolutely convinced" nan woody will beryllium ratified because nan parties "really went done each azygous aspect, each small detail".

"I judge we recovered nan champion imaginable consequence for each situation put connected nan array complete nan past mates of years," he besides said.

Maia de la Baume besides contributed to nan reporting.