The Gibraltar Agreement, which stipulates the removal of controls on the Gibraltar-Spain land border between the European Union and the United Kingdom at midnight tonight, was signed in Brussels.
The Gibraltar Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom was signed today after long-standing negotiations. In accordance with the agreement, controls on the Gibraltar-Spain land border will be lifted at midnight tonight. At the signing ceremony held at the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Union (EU) Commission, the agreement was signed by the United Kingdom's Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty, and the EU's Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic. Gibraltar Prime Minister Fabian Picardo, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and the negotiation teams of both sides were also present at the ceremony. With the removal of border controls, control practices that have been going on for years at border crossings will end. A celebration will be held at Gibraltar Airport before midnight. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also expected to attend an event to be held in the border region tomorrow.
EU: "The agreement will secure regional prosperity"
In a written statement published by the EU Commission regarding the agreement, it was stated that "'The main purpose of the agreement is to secure the future prosperity of the entire region. This will be achieved by removing all physical barriers, checks and controls on persons and goods moving between Spain and Gibraltar, and by preserving the Schengen area, the EU Single Market and the Customs Union. This will bring confidence and legal certainty to the life and welfare of the people of the entire region by promoting common prosperity and close and constructive relations between Gibraltar and the Spanish authorities." was used.
In his assessment of the issue, Gibraltar Prime Minister Fabien Picardo said that the results of the agreement will leave behind not only the negative effects of Brexit but also the structural problems before Brexit. Describing Brexit as "a complete disaster", Picardo argued that the agreement protected Gibraltar from the negative effects of Brexit. Spanish Foreign Minister Albares stated that the agreement started a new era for Spain, Andalusia and Campo de Gibraltar, and that it opened a new page in both UK-Spain relations and UK-EU relations.
Within the scope of the agreement, the EU and Spain officially recognized Gibraltar identity cards as valid residence documents in the Schengen area. On the other hand, it was stated that, depending on the agreement, a new document was created between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom administration and that there may be some changes in Gibraltar-United Kingdom relations with this document. It was reported that the same document would contain some new details regarding Gibraltar's right to leave the agreement and its own internal rights. - BRUSSELS