Fears are growing that David Cameron will sell off Gibraltar and the UK will lose its sovereignty in the area, according to GBN.
The UK foreign secretary is preparing to visit Brussels to discuss the rock’s post-Brexit trade arrangements. Lord Cameron, who led the Brexit referendum, will chair a meeting of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement partnership council with European Commission executive vice-president Maroš Šefčovič on May 16.
He is expected to continue negotiations on the UK-EU treaty on Gibraltar alongside Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. The meeting will be the second of its kind.
However, some MPs fear that Lord Cameron seems “prepared to concede an arrangement” that will “erode UK sovereignty to the point of meaninglessness.” Last week the Commons European scrutiny committee wrote a letter to David Rutley, the UK minister for Gibraltar. The committee requested him to suspend talks until officials sigh a deal that would preserve the sovereignty of the rock.
A deal must not be pursued irrespective of the cost. Rather than being assured that you are pursuing a deal that strikes this balance and, most importantly, respects UK sovereignty, we are concerned that you are allowing the pendulum to swing too far in the direction of the EU.
Lord Cameron is negotiating a new deal with the EU to end a four-year political impasse. A deal including Gibraltar is necessary, as the wider EU-UK trade pact struck in 2019 did not include it.
Gibraltar issue
Officials announced last month that they had agreed the “core elements” of a potential agreement. Madrid is apparently pushing for signing the treaty before the European Parliament elections on June 6.
Technically, Gibraltar is not part of the EU customs union. However, Madrid has granted a temporary exemption for workers and holidaymakers, leaving the headland in a state of limbo since Brexit. Spain can withdraw from the agreement at any time, so current negotiations are aimed at harmonising common travel between Gibraltar and the Schengen area.
The European Union and Spain have recently renewed their long-standing plans to make Gibraltar Airport an access point for travellers to southern Spain. This would allow it to join the Schengen zone. Some also believe that joint ownership of the airport will have a negative impact on the UK armed forces. Critics claim that a commercial airport and a UK Air Force base are sharing the runway.
Sir Bill also expressed displeasure that Gibraltar Airport became a subject of negotiation.
Any role for Spain in the management of the airport or change to its status, no matter how seemingly small or innocuous, must be ruled out. The airport and the isthmus on which it sits are of significant strategic importance, and their future cannot be risked for an air service agreement for a handful of commercial flights per year to EU member states.
