Foreign Affairs upset over the “unfortunate” statements about Gibraltar by a European vice president

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has not hidden his discomfort with the vice president of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, who this Thursday declared in Seville that the negotiation with the United Kingdom to regulate Gibraltar's relations with the EU after Brexit “lasts longer than expected.”

In a forum organized by the Joly Group, the Greek commissioner, responsible for the European Lifestyle Promotion portfolio, explained that British negotiators object to the role of Frontex agents in entry controls to the Rock, considering that The agency “is very European.” And he added, pouring cold water on the optimism of the Spanish Government, that “there will be no result before the European elections” on June 9. “I think that some involved in the negotiation wanted to project a certain optimism that in reality is not happening like that,” he added, alluding to Albares without citing him.

The head of Spanish diplomacy immediately contacted Schinas to complain about his “very unfortunate” statements and maintained, in an interview with RNE, that the negotiation on Gibraltar “is progressing at a good pace” and he hopes it will conclude “as soon as possible.” ”, although he did not want to venture a date. Albares revealed that he had called Shinas, who had “apologized” for his words, claiming that he did not have “all the information” about the negotiations with London.

Albares also spoke with executive vice president of the Commission, the Slovak Maroš Šefčovič, responsible for negotiating with London. Both issued a joint statement in which they assure that the EU-UK negotiations on Gibraltar “are progressing as planned” and are entering “a sensitive stage.”

Furthermore, they emphasize that “on the EU side, the negotiations are promoted by the European Commission, under the political responsibility of its executive vice-president, Maroš Šefčovič, who speaks on behalf of the European Commission on this matter.” That is to say, what Vice President Schinas says does not represent the commission.

Negotiations between the European Commission and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar began after, on December 31, 2020, Madrid and London reached an agreement to eliminate the Fence and allow free movement of residents in the British colony through the Schengen area. . However, after 18 rounds of negotiations – the last one was held on March 22 – it has not yet been possible to reach an agreement on entry controls at Gibraltar airport and the joint use of this facility, built on an isthmus. whose British sovereignty Spain does not recognize. The fact that an agreement is not reached before the European elections would force a break of several months, having to wait for the appointment of a new commission and its ratification by the new European Parliament.

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