Arancha González Laya meets with authorities of Campo de Gibraltar

Arancha González Laya also heard the opinions and concerns arising from Brexit voiced by the Regional Government of Andalusia and the local authorities in the area.

The minister recalled that although Gibraltar would leave the EU because of a decision by the UK, Spain has done everything possible to ensure that Gibraltar's exit from the EU would be carried out in a predictable way without harming the population of Campo de Gibraltar.

Under the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK, which entered into force on 1 February, and the specific Protocol for Gibraltar, the citizens of Campo de Gibraltar will continue to enjoy the rights they have held to date, and during the transition period which extends to 31 December of this year,

Furthermore, on 29 November 2018 Spain subscribed four bilateral memoranda of understanding with the UK on the environment, political and customs cooperation, tobacco and other products and the rights of citizens; as well as an agreement on taxation, which will ease the orderly exit of Gibraltar from the EU. The minister referred to the initial meetings of the Joint Committees created under the MoUs, which will take place in Algeciras on 26 and 27 February.

The EU is shortly to begin negotiations with the UK to determine their future relations. The minister recalled that the European Council has noted that Spanish consent was needed for any future agreement between the UK and the EU on Gibraltar. She stressed that the interests of Campo de Gibraltar would lie at the heart of the negotiations.

The minister and the local and regional authorities exchanged opinions in more detail about some of these issues of particular interest for citizens of Campo de Gibraltar.

Arancha González Laya reiterated that one of the priorities of her ministerial department in negotiations on future relations with the UK and Gibraltar would be the defence of the interests of citizens of Campo de Gibraltar, and in particular the workers, to ensure that the exit of the UK and Gibraltar from the EU would eventually become an opportunity to create a zone of shared prosperity.

The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere of transparency and trust, which highlighted the willingness of all the participants to cooperate effectively by aligning their positions in defence of the people of Campo de Gibraltar.

Apart from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, participating in the meeting were the Mayors of Algeciras, La Linea de la Concepción, San Roque, Los Barros, Tarifa, Castellar de la Frontera, Jimena de la Frontera and San Martín de Tesorillo; the Secretary-General for Foreign Action of the Regional Government of Andalusia; the Government Sub-Delegation in Andalusia, the Provincial Council of Cadiz and the association of municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar.

Non official translation