Gibraltar/Madrid/London: The Spaniards and the Brits sealed a last-minute accord on 31 December to skirt stricter controls on the movement of people and goods to the British overseas territory at the entrance to the Mediterranean that has been under Britain’s control since 1713.
According the four-year deal, officials from European border agency Frontex will assist with controls at the port and airport in the territory located at the edge of Spain.
Spain will be responsible for overseeing the new Schengen arrangements in Gibraltar.
The United Kingdom said it remains steadfast in its support for Gibraltar.
The sovereignty of Gibraltar has been safeguarded, British foreign secretary Dominic Raab said in a note this week.
Spain, meanwhile, has emphasized that it will have the last word on who enters Gibraltar under the preliminary deal on border arrangements.
Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told El Pais newspaper in an interview that the responsibility to oversee the passport-free Schengen agreement terms for entry into the territory would be Spain’s.
“There will be Spanish presence for minimum tasks of Schengen control,” she said.
“There is a convergence of interests between Gibraltarians and Spaniards and both of them are pro-European,” Gonzalez said, adding: “This is the fruit of Brexit.”
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