European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo agreed in Brussels on Thursday 19 September to continue their efforts to reach an agreement on the situation regarding the British territory to the south of Spain.
This was the third meeting at political level and the first under the new British government.
The negotiations, triggered by the United Kingdom’s effective exit from the EU, focus in particular on the movement of people and goods, while Spain must strictly apply Schengen rules, potentially penalising its economic activity.
When Brexit happened, 15,000 Spaniards went to work every day in Gibraltar.
“Building on the significant progress made on 12 April and 16 May, today’s discussions were constructive and productive, resulting in further progress on the complex issues of negotiations, namely in the area of people and goods”, says a joint statement.
The participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to concluding an agreement to bring “confidence, legal certainty and stability to the people of the whole region”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)