The Diplomat
The Gibraltar Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is at a minimum, in the midst of negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the future of the British colony after Brexit, as The Diplomat was able to confirm from reliable sources.
The Office, which reports to the State Secretariat for the European Union, is usually headed by a diplomat with the rank of deputy director general. Until now, the Office was headed by Mario González Pliego, who, although he remains in contact with the Ministry, is currently on paternity leave and is preparing to go to his next destination: the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union, where he will strengthen the team preparing for the Spanish Presidency of the EU.
His departure from the Office coincides with that of the second head, who has also been assigned to the Permanent Representation of Spain in Brussels, and with that of another diplomat, who will take up a post in the Fiji Islands. In addition, Gabriel Ferrán, former ambassador to Afghanistan, who also worked with the Office, was appointed ambassador to Cyprus a few months ago.
At the moment, only a young diplomat from the latest promotion, who has just taken up the post, is working in the office. However, the special delegate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Campo de Gibraltar, Juan José Sanz, also reports to the office.
The temporary emptying of the Gibraltar Office, without there being any replacements for the posts that have fallen vacant, has caused some surprise in diplomatic circles consulted by The Diplomat, as it comes at a time when negotiations between London and Brussels on the future of the Rock seem to be reviving.
The Diplomatic Information Office told The Diplomat that it is sometimes difficult to foresee changes in postings and that vacancies will be filled very soon. Furthermore, it is stressed that Gibraltar issues are also closely monitored by the State Secretariat for the European Union, whose head is Pascual Navarro, and by the Directorates-General for Europe and for Integration and Coordination of General Affairs.
