Press release

Agreement protects sovereignty and economic security of Gibraltar

Political agreement reached that will protect British sovereignty, UK military autonomy and secure Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economic future.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP
Published
11 June 2025

  • UK, alongside the 바카라 사이트 of Gibraltar, reaches a political agreement with the EU which will protect British sovereignty, UK military autonomy and secure Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economic future

  • agreement resolves the last major unresolved issue from Brexit, avoiding the need for checks on people and goods crossing the Gibraltar-Spain border to support prosperity in the region

  • Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, central to the agreement as Foreign Secretary visits Gibraltar this morning

The UK government has today [11 June] reached a political agreement with the EU which will secure Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economy, provide certainty for people and businesses in Gibraltar and protect British sovereignty. 

This government inherited a situation which left Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economy and way of life under threat. Gibraltar was not included in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement negotiated by the previous UK government following Brexit. Instead, the previous government began negotiations in 2021 to reach a deal which has remained unresolved until today. 

Approximately 15,000 people 바카라 사이트“ over half of Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s workforce 바카라 사이트“ cross the land border between Spain and Gibraltar every day. Without a new agreement, the EU바카라 사이트™s incoming system of entry and exit controls would have introduced a 바카라 사이트˜hard border바카라 사이트™ under which every individual passport was checked.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯Â 

Today바카라 사이트™s agreement provides a practical solution to avoid the need for onerous checks and long delays at the border which would have proved ruinous for Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economy 바카라 사이트“ costing hundreds of millions a year and placing pressure on the UK taxpayer for fiscal support, underlining the government바카라 사이트™s commitment to economic stability under the Plan for Change.바카라 사이트¯Â 

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, has been central to the negotiations from the start and today바카라 사이트™s agreement has his full backing.바카라 사이트¯Â 

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

This government inherited a situation from the last government which put Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economy and way of life under threat. Today바카라 사이트™s breakthrough delivers a practical solution after years of uncertainty.  

Alongside the 바카라 사이트 of Gibraltar, we have a reached an agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again. 

I thank the Chief Minister and his 바카라 사이트 for their tireless dedication throughout the negotiations. The UK바카라 사이트™s commitment to Gibraltar remains as solid as the Rock itself.

Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo said: 

I바카라 사이트™m delighted we have finalised a conclusive political agreement which will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier. 

I have worked hand in glove with the UK government throughout this negotiation to deliver the deal Gibraltar wants and needs 바카라 사이트“ one that will protect future generations of British Gibraltarians and does not in any way affect our British sovereignty. 

Now is the time to look beyond the arguments of the past and towards a time of renewed cooperation and understanding. Now the deal is done, it바카라 사이트™s time to finalise the Treaty.

As the only UK overseas territory which shares a border with the Schengen Area, today바카라 사이트™s political agreement provides a practical solution for the unique situation faced by the people of Gibraltar whose livelihoods depend on a fluid border.바카라 사이트¯Â 

Under the agreement, there will be:바카라 사이트¯Â 

  • a clause agreed by all sides which makes explicitly clear that the final Treaty does not impact sovereignty 

  • a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain, without checks on people crossing 

  • dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. Immigration and law and order in Gibraltar will remain the exclusive responsibility of Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s authorities. Spanish officials will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Schengen Area, in a model similar to French police operating in London바카라 사이트™s St Pancras station바카라 사이트¯Â 

  • a bespoke goods and customs model for products entering Gibraltar across its land border, avoiding the need for onerous checks 

  • full operational autonomy of the UK바카라 사이트™s military facilities in Gibraltar, which play a vital role in protecting regional security and important trade routes

  • the opportunity for flights to operate from Gibraltar airport to EU destinations, increasing Gibraltar바카라 사이트™s connectivity to the continent and improving its prosperity 

The agreement clears the way for finalisation of a UK-EU Treaty Text on Gibraltar, which all parties have committed to complete as quickly as possible.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯Â 

View the joint statement: UK-EU Agreement in Respect of Gibraltar: joint statement.

Background

  • Gibraltar is a UK overseas territory located on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula that was formally ceded to the United Kingdom from Spain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht 

  • the people of Gibraltar expressed their overwhelming desire to remain British in referenda in 1967 (99%) and 2002 (98%)바카라 사이트¯Â 

  • negotiations for a UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar began in October 2021 under the previous UK government  

  • the final Treaty will be subject to ratification by the UK and Gibraltar parliaments

  • the UK Strategic Defence Review 2025 sets out the importance of maintaining the UK military presence in Gibraltar, including for maritime force protection operations, upholding the sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, as well as providing a base at a strategic location at the western entrance to the Mediterranean to provide critical support to UK 바카라 사이트“ and allied 바카라 사이트“ military objectives

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Updates to this page

Published 11 June 2025