Conservative Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom have expressed concern in recent days about the direction of the negotiations on Gibraltar. Everything has arisen due to the statements of the Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Fernando Sampedro, who has said that Spain is working “with great hopes” to be able to close the agreement “in the days ahead.”
As reported The post, the former Secretary of State in March of the EU Ministry in Theresa May’s cabinet, David Jones, has stated that he is “deeply concerned” that the United Kingdom does not reject “barriers” from Spain and the European Union in British jurisdiction. Gibraltar. This would mainly affect the movement of people and airport management in that area.
Three red lines in negotiation
After the meetings held between the United Kingdom, Spain and the European Union, it was decided not to cross three red lines. The first is related to Gibraltar accepting this agreement, the second is that it will not change the operation and independence of British military bases (especially the airport they have in that area) and it is the third that the movement of people continues to make it possible. .
This goes against the Trade and Cooperation Agreement that was signed with Brexit. This agreement between Spain and Gibraltar included the foundation of border controls to protect the Schengen area, but they complain that they are being carried out in British territory.
“High hopes” that the deal will be closed in the “next few days”
As mentioned EFE, the Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Fernando Sampedro, said this Tuesday that Spain is working “with great hope” to be able to close the agreement with the United Kingdom on Gibraltar “in the coming days.” “You will have more information in the coming weeks,” Sampedro told reporters when he arrived at an informal meeting in Brussels.
The Secretary of State recalled that the “general political lines” on the agreement were approved at the ministerial meeting held on April 12 in Brussels between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares; his British counterpart, David Cameron; and the vice-president of the community Government, Maros Sefcovic, who negotiates with the United Kingdom on behalf of the Twenty-seven.
“That meeting gave us the opportunity to agree on the general political lines on the airport, the movement of people and the movement of goods, which allows us to work these days on preparations for this agreement, with great hope that we will be able to closed in this agreement. days to come, but we can’t give a date yet,” he said.
Sampedro confirmed that Albares and he have been “in communication with the Government of Andalusia and with the mayors of the region so that they have the elements of the agreement.” “In the next few days we will be in communication at the negotiator level, myself on the Spanish side, but if everything goes well, as we hope, there is expected to be another meeting at ministerial level, including with the Government. Deputy President Sefcovic” in Brussels, he said. .
2024-05-02 11:32:08
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