Post-Brexit Settlement: European Union and United Kingdom Reach Compact Over Gibraltar
Headline: A New Era for Gibraltar: Five Years After Brexit, Shifting Sands in Europe
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After five long years, the dust has settled on Brexit, and the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom have finally reached an agreement over the British territory of Gibraltar. Excited declarations on online platform X paint it as "a truly groundbreaking milestone" in the ongoing saga between the two factions. This agreement resolves the last remaining unresolved issue from Brexit, according to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Nestled in the extreme south of Spain, Gibraltar—with its population of around 30,000—will no longer require checks on the movement of goods and people between itself and Spain, thanks to this deal. As Lammy explains, this agreement safeguards British sovereignty and supports Gibraltar's economic growth.
Top diplomats from both sides convened in Brussels for negotiations. The partnership established by this agreement aims to ensure the prosperity of the whole region in the long term. This will be achieved by scrapping all barriers, checks, and controls between people and goods, while preserving the sanctity of the Schengen area, the EU single market, and the customs union. This will forge stronger ties between Gibraltar's authorities and Spain.
Last year, there was a preliminary accord on the peninsular's status, established in the Brexit deal. Spain, who traditionally lays claim to the territory that has been under British rule for over three centuries, will have to ratify this new agreement.
The famous "Rock of Gibraltar" was captured by the English fleet in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Treaty of Utrecht ceded the territory to Britain in 1713.
The agreement reached will have a profound impact on both local businesses and residents. With the removal of land border controls, commuters, primarily Gibraltar's workforce, will enjoy fluid movement throughout the region. This newfound connection is expected to establish lasting partnerships between Gibraltar, the UK, Spain, and the EU, replacing potential points of contention.
[[1] Schengen area simplified, border-free travel across Europe gains momentum, Al Jazeera, 11/24/2022.]["The Schengen Agreement and the Free Movement of Goods and People in Europe" (2021). Encyclopedia Britannica.]["Schengen Area Deadline Threatens to Divide Europe" (2022). BBC News, 5/1/2022.]
[[2] "Gibraltar Puts Sovereignty at Heart of EU Talks" (2022). Financial Times, 3/1/2022.][["Post-Brexit Trade talks Between UK and EU: Key Points" (2021). BBC News, 12/31/2021.]["UK Strikes Post-Brexit Trade Deal with EU" (2020). The Guardian, 12/24/2020.]["UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement under Fire" (2022). The EU Reporter, 4/1/2022.]
- The new agreement over Gibraltar's status, a significant policy-and-legislation development in the post-Brexit era, aims to foster economic growth and strengthen ties between Gibraltar, the UK, Spain, and the EU, offering a new chapter in politics and general news.
- The recent negotiations in Brussels have led to the establishment of a partnership that seeks to dismantle barriers, checks, and controls, creating a seamless flow of people and goods across the Schengen area, while preserving the EU single market and customs union, all crucial elements of the policy-and-legislation landscape.
