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Spain said it could not negotiate “forever” with the UK over Gibraltar as the two countries’ foreign ministers revealed they had narrowed their differences over the territory’s post-Brexit status but remained deadlocked on some issues.
The UK has been locked in talks with Spain and the EU over Gibraltar for more than a year as the two sides try to agree a treaty that defines the British territory’s relationship with the bloc.
They agreed to a tentative deal on New Year’s Eve in 2020 to guarantee the ease of movement of people and goods between Gibraltar and Spain, but they struggled to settle the practical details.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Jose Manuel Albarez, Spain’s foreign minister, and his UK counterpart, James Smart, sought to emphasize that both sides had made what the British minister called “significant progress” in the talks.
But they could not hide the differences that remained over who would check passports at Gibraltar’s airport.
Alberes showed some signs of frustration on the Spanish side. “What is clear is that we cannot negotiate forever,” he said after a meeting earlier in the day in Madrid. “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
The two sides are not discussing their conflicting views on Gibraltar’s position on the world map, with London saying it should remain British and Madrid refusing to recognize UK sovereignty. The territory was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
However, the narrow issue of its relationship with the European Union remains a point of contention post-Brexit. The goal of the negotiations is to facilitate movement to and from Spain by land by including Gibraltar in the EU’s Schengen free-movement area.
While Spain is negotiating alongside the EU, Gibraltarian officials are part of the UK delegation.
Alberes said Spain’s priority was “a good agreement for the benefit of all”. He said they were closer to an agreement than they were earlier in the day and that the two ministers could agree to “move forward at a good pace”.
Cleverly struck a slightly more positive tone, describing his counterpart as a “friend” and “companion”.
The UK Foreign Secretary noted that the talks were taking place in an “optimistic and positive spirit”, arguing that it was now in everyone’s interest for the matter to be resolved “properly but swiftly”.
But he also admitted that “modest differences” remained and said the pair had pledged to engage in regular dialogue.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alberes showed some signs of frustration on the Spanish side © Olivier Hauslett/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Alberes said Spain’s full proposal for Gibraltar’s EU relations was already on the table, but pointedly said “if the proposal was completely acceptable, we would have accepted it”.
The British minister said one area “where we need to find a solution” was the question of how passport checks are carried out on air or sea travelers between Gibraltar and the UK mainland or other countries outside the Schengen zone. The UK opposes Spanish officials checking travel documents inside Gibraltar and instead wants officers from Frontex, the pan-EU border police, to be used.
Alberes said: “It is clear that, if there is an extension of the Schengen area, controls are carried out on behalf of the European Union by recognized authorities, which in this case are the Spanish police.”
Freedom of movement is important for Gibraltar as the region depends on around 15,000 workers crossing the border from Spain every day, as well as basic goods such as food.
Spain is eager for the neighboring region of Campo de Gibraltar, one of the poorest parts of the country, to further benefit economically from its proximity to Gibraltar.
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