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Gibraltar talks could be on shaky ground thanks to unfortunate EU Commissioner joke
An EU official has raised eyebrows by referring to Gibraltar as “Spanish”
EU Commissioner Margaritis Schinas stirred controversy during a recent briefing in Seville by jokingly referring to Gibraltar as Spanish, a fatal faux pas in the middle of some of the tensest negotiations over the Rock’s future ahead of the June deadline.When asked for his thoughts about Gibraltar, Schinas light-heartedly replied “Español”, prompting gales of laughter from the listening crowd. But not everyone say the funny side. The term "Gibraltar Español" actually originates from the Franco era and is frequently invoked by those advocating for Spain's ownership of the territory.
Diplomatic conversations between the EU and UK regarding the removal of immigration and customs barriers between Spain and Gibraltar could now face complications due to Schinas' remark, although the European Commission has downplayed the issue, referring to it as a "humorous situation".
Meanwhile, Maroš Šefčovič, the Commission Vice-President tasked with handling Gibraltar negotiations alongside Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, released a joint statement saying that the current talks are going very well and that they are "very optimistic" about an imminent deal that will satisfy everyone involved.
Moreover, Schinas does not hold any responsibility for these negotiations, rendering his comments irrelevant, according to Albares.
As Gibraltar was excluded from the original Brexit agreement, separate discussions ensued between Spain, the UK and the Commission. Central issues involve the impact of Gibraltar joining the Schengen Area and the subsequent handover of immigration controls at airports and seaports accepting flights from non-Schengen nations, including Britain and Morocco.
One of the most contentious issues is who, exactly, will end up controlling the borders. The UK is calling for the deployment of officials from Frontex, the EU’s border force, while Spain has long been pushing to use its own officers.
In any case, the discussions appear to be moving ahead, according to Spain’s Foreign Minister.
"The important thing: we are negotiating, both with the UK, and of course, the Commission with the UK, on the aspects that correspond to the EU, well; we are making progress, and certainly all parties, the Commission, Spain, UK, want that agreement to conclude as soon as possible."
Image: EFUS
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