Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar have hit a stumbling block over the shared use of the island’s airport. The UK Government is reluctant to collaborate on Gibraltar airport, stemming from a fear that doing so would jeopardise British sovereignty over the territory.
Negotiations are set to resume in London on December 13, to resolve Gibraltar’s legal uncertainties and establish its post-Brexit relationship with Spain and the rest of the EU-27.
Previously, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and his British counterpart, David Cameron, met in Brussels to restart talks, noting “progress” despite lingering disagreements, particularly over the shared use of the airport – which sees nearly 500,000 passengers a year, mainly from England’s Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol and Luton airports.
Joint use of the airport was proposed by the European Commission in 2022, but it has long been a demand from the local Spanish officials backed in recent years by both the Spanish government and the Andalucian regional government.
Gibraltar’s government has refused to sign up to the proposal as the joint running of the airport is regarded as a surrender of British sovereignty.
It comes as a Spanish politician calls for negotiations between Spain and the United Kingdom regarding the implementation of Brexit in Gibraltar to address Spain’s historical demands.
The mayor of Algeciras and president of the Senate Foreign Affairs Commission, José Ignacio Landaluce also raised concerns about the rights of over 10,000 workers who rely on daily border crossings to work in the British territory.
Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo has described ongoing discussions between Spain and the United Kingdom regarding the Treaty of Gibraltar, which began in Malaga on Monday, as “positive and productive.”
He did, however, acknowledge that certain aspects of the negotiations remained complicated. Mr Picardo told Radio Gibraltar that there is currently no set date for the Treaty’s signing. He did, however, mention “some obvious dates” on the horizon that the parties should be aware of.
Picardo stressed that the governor’s remarks, in which he expressed optimism about reaching a preliminary agreement before Christmas, were “on behalf of all of us”.
He emphasised the importance of “a proper agreement than a rushed agreement”. Picardo has also questioned the Spanish authorities’ right to require travellers to have hotel reservations to enter Spain.
