Spain Ratifies Gibraltar Deal Amidst Unwavering Sovereignty Claims

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares declared on Tuesday that Spain remains steadfast in its claim to sovereignty over Gibraltar, affirming that the country is "not changing a single comma" in its long-standing position. This statement followed the signing of a significant agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom in Brussels, designed to regulate Gibraltar's status after Brexit. Albares emphasized that Article 2 of the agreement explicitly safeguards Spain's sovereignty claim, ensuring its position remains precisely the same.

A notable outcome of this agreement, which Albares termed a "spectacular leap into the future," is the planned demolition of the last stretch of the border fence, known as the Verja, which he described as "the last frontier in continental Europe." This move is set to occur this Wednesday, symbolizing a new chapter in the relationship between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar. The Spanish diplomat asserted that the agreement successfully protects Spain’s sovereignty claim while simultaneously fostering cooperation and enhancing day-to-day coexistence with the territory.

Albares highlighted that Spain achieved all its initial negotiation objectives, with Madrid's sovereignty claim being "protected" by the treaty's terms. The agreement was formally signed by European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic and the UK Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty. Both Albares and Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, participated in the ceremony. In Albares' view, the deal ushers in a "new era" for relations between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, definitively closing the Brexit chapter six years after the UK's departure from the EU.

The new framework established by the agreement promises to guarantee freedom of movement for both people and goods. It aims to prevent "distortions of the past" in critical areas such as taxation and the environment, and is expected to provide "new connectivity for the Campo de Gibraltar." This landmark deal is presented as a turning point, moving past more than three centuries of disputes and mistrust surrounding the territory. Albares articulated this shift by stating, "We are leaving behind three centuries marked by mistrust and confrontation. Those who used to live back-to-back, as Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar did, are moving forward together towards a future full of opportunities."

Addressing domestic criticism, particularly from the opposition Popular Party and Vox, Albares contended that "even if they do not realise it, they too have won." He framed the agreement as beneficial for the 300,000 Andalusians residing in the Campo de Gibraltar, advocating for their interests and future. He reiterated that strengthening cooperation and improving economic and social opportunities on both sides of the border ultimately serves Spain's benefit, all while maintaining Spain’s historic position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar virtually unchanged.