Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, announced on Tuesday that his country has signed a significant agreement in Brussels between the European Union and the United Kingdom to regulate the status of Gibraltar following Brexit. Despite the deal, which aims to foster closer cooperation, Albares maintained that Spain is not changing a single comma of its long-standing sovereignty claim over the territory.
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Albares asserted that the nation continues to uphold its position on the Rock, noting that the agreement is structured to protect these claims. The ceremony was attended by European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic, UK Minister of State for Europe Stephen Doughty, and Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo.
A major physical change resulting from the agreement is the scheduled demolition of the Verja, the border fence that has long separated Gibraltar from Spanish land. Describing the barrier as the last frontier in continental Europe, the minister highlighted that its removal symbolizes a new chapter in the territory's relationship with the European Union.
Albares argued that the new framework achieves all of Spain's initial negotiation objectives, balancing the protection of sovereignty with a leap forward in regional cooperation and day-to-day coexistence. He noted that the treaty will guarantee the freedom of movement for both goods and people, while also addressing previous distortions in taxation and environmental management. Furthermore, the agreement is expected to provide new connectivity for the Campo de Gibraltar.
Addressing the broader regional impact, the foreign minister suggested that the deal helps move past three centuries characterized by mistrust and confrontation. He emphasized that the arrangement is designed to benefit the 300,000 Andalusians living in the Campo de Gibraltar, fostering economic and social opportunities on both sides of the border. By investing in this cooperation, Albares stated that Spain is securing the interests and future of the local population while ensuring its historic position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar remains effectively unchanged.
"Article 2 makes it very clear that Spain is not changing a single comma of its sovereignty claim, that we continue to assert sovereignty and that our position remains exactly the same," Albares told reporters after the signing.
