Picardo informs Charles III that Gibraltar’s Parliament has requested ratification of the treaty

Eduardo González The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, sent a letter this Thursday to King Charles III of the United Kingdom to update him on the unanimous agreement of the Gibraltar Parliament to call for the ratification of the UK-EU Treaty in relation to Gibraltar. In the letter, Picardo reminds the King that both the UK Parliament and EU Commission have also published the full text of the Treaty ahead of its ratification and signature, with the expectation that it will enter into provisional implementation on 10th April this year. Picardo has similarly written to the Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty and will later today write to all the leaders of the UK political parties to reiterate Gibraltar’s wishes ahead of the beginning of the UK’s own formal ratification process. “I have taken the opportunity to update His Majesty on every occasion that I have had the honour of meeting him, and I’m very proud to be in a position to inform him of the Gibraltar Parliament’s unanimous approval for the ratification of the Treaty,” the Chief Minister stated. The treaty The full text of the treaty was published on February 26 by the European Commission. Among its main points, the treaty envisions the removal of the border fence, the last wall of continental Europe, and establishes that there will be no passport controls between the two territories. Spain will assume Schengen controls at Gibraltar's airport and port, and Spanish authorities will have the final say on the issuance and renewal of residence permits. In addition, the agreement regulates the movement of goods through a system of harmonized controls. Spain will carry out customs controls on goods entering Gibraltar, and baggage checks will be established for travelers bound for the European Union and Gibraltar, guaranteeing security and compliance with EU regulations. Regarding tax convergence, the treaty incorporates convergence measures for indirect taxation on goods. Gibraltar will apply an indirect tax equivalent to VAT, starting at 15% upon the treaty's entry into force and completing convergence within three years. Furthermore, specific provisions are established for tobacco in accordance with European regulations. The text also provides for adaptation to EU environmental regulations and the creation of a joint environmental impact assessment mechanism. It also guarantees compliance with European standards in this area, reinforcing the protection of the shared natural environment. The treaty also establishes a financial mechanism for job training and other social measures to compensate for income inequalities, strengthened coordination on social security matters, and specific protection measures for cross-border workers. Next steps On June 11, 2025, the European Union (represented by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares) and the United Kingdom (represented by the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo) reached a “definitive” political agreement in Brussels on “the fundamental aspects of the future Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom concerning Gibraltar.” On February 17, the Commission announced its proposals for the signing, provisional application, and conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar. Once this step is completed, Brussels will forward these proposals to the Council, which will proceed with the necessary steps for the signing and conclusion of the agreement. Finally, the European Parliament must give its consent for ratification, in accordance with EU treaties. Furthermore, the Gibraltarian Parliament's approval of the treaty signals the United Kingdom to proceed with its own ratification procedures. Once the agreement is signed, and regardless of any potential provisional application, it will only enter into force one month after the parties have notified each other of the fulfillment of their respective requirements, including legal and parliamentary procedures. Last Friday, Albares expressed his confidence that "everything will be approved and ratified a little before or a little after the summer." For now, he explained, “all Spanish parties in the European Parliament have been encouraged to do everything possible to expedite the process and vote.” Furthermore, while awaiting the submission of the text to the European Parliament for ratification, the European Commission “has requested the provisional application of the agreement as soon as it is approved by the Council.”

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