British and Spanish foreign ministers have reported that a new round of talks held on Friday regarding the status of the disputed territory of Gibraltar post-Brexit was productive, with significant progress made. The meeting, which took place in Brussels, included representatives from Spain, Britain, the European Commission, and Gibraltar, marking the first time all four parties came together to discuss the issue.
According to a statement released after the meeting, discussions were held in a constructive atmosphere, leading to the agreement on general political lines related to the airport, goods, and mobility. Negotiations are set to continue in the following weeks to finalize the EU-UK Agreement, with all sides aiming to reach a deal before the upcoming European elections in June.
Following Britain's exit from the EU in 2020, the relationship between Gibraltar and the bloc remained unresolved. Despite facing challenges in the 19 rounds of negotiations held so far, recent expressions of optimism from both Spanish and U.K. officials have raised hopes for a successful agreement.
In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 96% of Gibraltar voters favored remaining in the EU, emphasizing the territory's reliance on access to the EU market for its 34,000 residents. Gibraltar, which was ceded to Britain in 1713, has been a point of contention with Spain maintaining its sovereignty claim over the region.
One of the key issues in the negotiations has been the control of Gibraltar's airport, which, under the proposed free-movement deal, would serve as an external border of the EU. Disagreements have arisen over Spain's request for its border officials to be stationed at the airport, which also houses a Royal Air Force base, a proposition resisted by the U.K. and Gibraltar.
The British Foreign Office acknowledged that while a final agreement was not expected immediately, the significance of having senior political figures from the UK, European Commission, Spain, and Gibraltar in the same room was notable.
