The European Commission has not received a request from the Gibraltar government to join the Schengen area of free movement of persons, in which 26 countries participate, and has therefore not been able to make an "assessment" of the situation, its spokesman Eric Mamer said on J20 January.
He was reacting to information from AFP that the British territory would be inclined to join the Schengen area once the UK leaves the European Union on 31 January. Gibraltar's current Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, has indicated that he is considering bringing Gibraltar into the Schengen area as a means of ensuring smooth movement on its border with Spain.
Gibraltar, a small British enclave at the southern tip of Spain, records more than 28,000 border crossings a day.
A protocol has been included in the United Kingdom's withdrawal agreement from the EU to address the special situation of this territory. It provides for administrative cooperation between Spain and the United Kingdom in relation to Gibraltar in a number of policy areas during the post-Brexit transition period and in particular in the field of citizens' rights. A specialised committee will be responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of the withdrawal agreement. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)