The Diplomat
The UK/EU negotiations on the future relationship of Gibraltar with the European Union are set to continue into next year and the aim of the two parties is to reach an agreement before Easter, as agreed at the fourth negotiating round which ended yesterday in London.
As reported yesterday by the Government of Gibraltar, in the first four rounds and “it is clear that all parties are determined to move forward in a positive and constructive manner to find solutions to the complex political and technical issues under discussion.”
Although the political framework was concluded on 31 December 2020, the actual negotiating process did not commence until October 2021, once the EU had completed its own internal procedures. The objective at this time is to conclude an agreement before Easter.
The negotiations are centred on securing the fluid movement of persons and goods between Gibraltar and the EU. There were a number of other areas discussed which would serve to underpin this and which would also serve “to facilitate the creation of an area of greater shared prosperity”, according to the Gibraltarian Executive. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia attended meetings parallel to the negotiations.
The London meeting coincided with the presence in Spain of the British Foreign Minister, Liz Truss, who yesterday held a meeting and a working dinner with her Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares.
As recalled by sources at the British Embassy, yesterday’s meeting took place “only two weeks after” the interview that Albares and Truss held in Riga on the occasion of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, in which both ministers “stressed their commitment to the Political Framework for the EU-UK Treaty on Gibraltar and the rapid conclusion of the negotiations”.
During the visit, which took place during her first 100 days in office, Minister Liz Truss held a meeting with leading Spanish investors and British companies in Spain and attended the presentation of a report on scientific collaboration between the UK and Spain.
