UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron travels to Brussels today for talks on Gibraltar and its relations with the EU after Brexit, BNR reported.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez and European Commission Vice President Maros Šefčovič will also attend the talks. At the center of the discussions is expected to be the question of how to manage the border of Gibraltar. However, there are no expectations that the meeting will lead to a final agreement.
Prior to the talks, Picardo said he was "optimistic". He added that he wanted "the issues to be resolved in the safest possible manner and without compromising any aspect of Gibraltar's sacred sovereignty, jurisdiction and control.
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, where it borders Spain.
The UK's decision to leave the EU in 2016 and thereby end freedom of movement has caused problems in Gibraltar, where thousands of people cross the border with Spain every day to work, shop or visit family. The territory was not included in the permanent Brexit deal between the UK and the EU and is instead operating under arrangements as situations arise. Since October 2021, 17 rounds of negotiations have been held aimed at reaching a lasting solution.
Last month Conservative Party veteran Sir Bill Cash said he was disturbed to learn that London had agreed in principle to allow EU border checks at Gibraltar and "joint British-Spanish management of the airport in Gibraltar" which is used by both civil airlines and the Royal Air Force.