Luis Ayllón
The early elections in the United Kingdom announced for July 4 by the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, may slow down the negotiation on the future of Gibraltar after Brexit, which had accelerated in recent weeks.
However, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, assured yesterday that the negotiations to reach a treaty between Brussels and London “can continue”, despite the electoral advance in the United Kingdom. In statements to the Gibraltarian network GBC, he stated that the work of the technical teams is not interrupted and that there could be an agreement before July 4.
Negotiations between the European Commission and the United Kingdom, with the presence of the Spanish Government, have accelerated in recent weeks, but without a definitive agreement having yet been reached.
The call for elections announced by Sunak may be a new obstacle to the progress of these negotiations, although Picardo, insisted that he hopes to continue working with the current and next Government of the United Kingdom on all matters. related to Gibraltar.
And, in a statement issued by his government, he thanked the Prime Minister and the British Foreign Minister, David Cameron, “for the support they have provided in recent months to Gibraltar in the context, mainly but not only, of the negotiations with the EU and Spain on a future Treaty between the United Kingdom and the EU for Gibraltar.”
The observers of the dispute consulted by The Diplomat consider that the dissolution of the British parliament is a setback, which is added to the fact that the European Parliament is already dissolved and it will be several months until the one that emerges from the June 9 elections is formed. .
The same observers estimate that it would be highly criticizable for the current British Government to make such a far-reaching decision now and, in any case, any agreement would not come into force until it was approved by the new Parliaments, both in London and in Strasbourg, the headquarters of the of the European Chamber.
Yesterday, the Gibraltar dispute was present in the debate in the Plenary Session of the Congress of Deputies, in which the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, stated: “We are very close to achieving a historic milestone on this issue that will bring more legal security. “, more economic opportunities and more daily facilities for the inhabitants of Campo de Gibraltar.”
Before learning of Sunak’s decision, Sánchez expressed his confidence that “a comprehensive agreement will be reached during the coming weeks.” And he added “Intense work is still being done to guarantee that the freedom of movement of people and goods is done with due guarantees and without any distortion to the internal market.”
In the debate, the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, complained about the lack of information about this negotiation on the part of the Executive, and asked Sánchez: “Will there be adequate protection of the internal market? Will there be effective control of the Schengen area? Will there be a fight against tax fraud and money laundering? Will the rights of Spanish workers be the same? Will the environment be respected?” “If you can guarantee all this, call me, if not, don’t worry,” he said.
