Spain will have the ability to determine who can enter Gibraltar beneath the phrases of a post-Brexit deal, its Overseas Minister has mentioned, sparking a livid response from the Territory’s Chief Minister.
Simply hours earlier than the UK formally left the EU a preliminary deal was struck which permits Gibraltar to affix the Schengen zone, guaranteeing free motion of individuals and items into the British Abroad Territory.
However in an interview with Spain’s El Pais newspaper, Overseas Minister Arancha González Laya mentioned: “Schengen has a algorithm, procedures and devices to use them, together with its database, to which solely Spain has entry. Gibraltar and the UK don’t.
“To be able to enter a Gibraltar built-in into the Schengen space, the duty for border management is in Spanish arms.
“That’s the reason the ultimate resolution on who enters the Schengen space is Spanish, after all.
When pressed if that meant Spain would have the “remaining say” on who may enter Gibraltar, Ms Laya mentioned: “After all, as a result of the administration of entry management to the Schengen space belongs to Spain.”
She added that there could be a Spanish presence in Gibraltar with a view to perform the minimal Schengen management duties.
The declare sparked a pointy response from Fabian Picardo, the Territory’s Chief Minister.
He tweeted: “Beneath the New 12 months’s Eve Settlement solely Gibraltar will determine who enters Gibraltar & Spanish officers won’t train any controls in Gibraltar on the Airport or Port now or in 4 years time. That is our land. Could not be clearer.”
Earlier than the pandemic, a mean of 28,500 individuals crossed the border a day, together with about 15,000 cross-border staff.
Gibraltar was by no means a part of the Customs Union, however was a part of the Single Market.
Whereas the deal has been agreed in precept, it should be formally changed into a treaty, which may take six months and see Gibraltar set up nearer ties with the EU simply after the UK formally severed ties with the bloc.
Within the wake of the deal, Boris Johnson tweeted to supply his “wholehearted welcome” to the political settlement on Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU.
“The UK has all the time been, and can stay, completely dedicated to the safety of the pursuits of Gibraltar and its British sovereignty”, Mr Johnson mentioned.
Beneath the deal struck, Frontex, the EU’s border drive, will “help Spain” in controlling safety at Gibraltar’s airport and port for a transition interval of 4 years.