Gibraltar Schengen Agreement

A Spanish diplomat has hinted that an agreement on airline landing rights for flights between the EU and the UK, reached during Brexit negotiations, would not apply to Gibraltar International Airport. [26] However, from 2018-2019, all flights at the airport to and from the UK or Morocco (not affected by Brexit) and none to the EU. As an alternative, Malaga Airport (distance of 125 kilometers (78 miles) offers many flights from the EU. The European Council published a set of guidelines for the EU-27 on withdrawal negotiations. In those guidelines, Central Principle 22 states that `after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply in the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom`. [13] Pro-Brexit of the Conservatives M.P. Jack Lopresti found it shameful that the EU was trying to give Spain an effective veto over the future of British territory and ignore the will of the people of Gibraltar. [14] Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reaffirmed the UK`s commitment to Gibraltar. [15] In April 2018, Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis announced that Spain hoped to sign a bilateral agreement with Britain on Gibraltar before October so as not to hinder an interim Brexit agreement. Talks between London and Madrid were well advanced. While reaffirming Spain`s long-term goal of “re-establishing” Gibraltar, he said Spain would not take Gibraltar “hostage” for EU negotiations.

[22] The Spanish and British governments have currently concluded an agreement allowing Spanish citizens and British residents of Gibraltar to quickly cross gibraltar`s borders.