Albares “would not understand” the London-EU rapprochement advocated by Lammy “without an agreement on Gibraltar”

Eduardo González The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, warned Monday that the Spanish Government “would not understand a rapprochement of the United Kingdom with the EU” without London's acceptance of the agreement proposed by Spain and Brussels on the future of Gibraltar after Brexit. “There is no reason why the United Kingdom should not give its approval to this agreement,” Albares told the press on his arrival at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) held in Luxembourg, referring to the proposal for a “shared coexistence agreement” presented by Spain “and by the EU and which includes the conditions for Gibraltar's entry into the Schengen Area. “We would not understand a rapprochement with the European Union when an agreement that is respectful of the European Union's acquis in the Schengen Area and the Customs Union is not accepted,” continued Albares, who will meet this Monday at the FAC with the British Foreign Minister, David Lammy. “Spain has had a balanced, generous agreement for many, many months now, which is respectful of the European Union's acquis, as it cannot be otherwise, and which guarantees the freedom of movement of people and goods,” he continued. “Spain is the country in the European Union with the largest colony of British citizens perfectly integrated among us and we have enormous connectivity, cross-investments” and, therefore, “obviously, this situation in relation to Gibraltar must be resolved,” he warned. Following these statements, and on the margins of the CAE, Albares held a meeting with Lammy, to whom he conveyed Spain's desire for "the best relations between the EU and the United Kingdom" and "the importance of reaching the generous and balanced agreement that Spain has offered in relation to Gibraltar", according to the minister through his account on the social network X. For its part, the Foreign Office announced this Monday in a press release that Lammy's objective in Luxembourg has been "to collaborate more closely with the EU in matters of Foreign Affairs, with special attention to "the main challenges facing European security", such as "the continued Russian aggression and interference throughout the continent and the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, including the constant threat posed by Iran". Lammy's visit, at the invitation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, is "part of a more regular engagement, with plans to work more closely on international affairs and strengthen the partnership between the United Kingdom and the EU on security matters," the Foreign Office added. During Monday's Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Lammy and the European ministers discussed key issues such as Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Indo-Pacific and stability in the Western Balkans. During these discussions, the possibility of establishing regular consultations between the EU and the UK to coordinate efforts in areas of mutual interest was also considered. On November 10 On October 9, Albares expressed his wish that the Government of the United Kingdom accept the “balanced and generous” agreement proposed by Spain and the EU on Gibraltar before the new entry and exit controls come into force on November 10 throughout the Schengen Area. “We have been negotiating the agreement for many years, I am the fourth Foreign Minister to negotiate it, and it is time for the United Kingdom to say yes to an agreement that is balanced and generous and that we have put on the table for a long time,” said Albares in a press conference after meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry with the eight mayors of Campo de Gibraltar and with representatives of the Junta de Andalucía to address the latest developments on the negotiations between London and Brussels (with the intervention of Spain) for the future integration of Gibraltar in the EU after Brexit. According to the minister, the “shared coexistence agreement” presented by Spain “and by the EU” includes Gibraltar within the Schengen Area, but, he warned, it is the United Kingdom “that has to decide whether it prefers that or prefers that from November 10 there be this entry system for Gibraltar”. There is one month left for the new controls within the Schengen Area to come into force, which could generate long queues at the entrances and exits between Gibraltar and Campo de Gibraltar. Since the United Kingdom left the EU, and pending the conclusion of negotiations, the border crossing has been governed by the same rules as before Brexit, but the authorities of the Rock have already warned that, from November 10, Spain will be forced to apply the new conditions of access to the Schengen Area.

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