Sánchez and Sunak agree on the need for an agreement on Gibraltar "as soon as possible"

MADRID, 4 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, agreed this Thursday on the need for the United Kingdom and the EU to close the agreement on Gibraltar "as soon as possible", which Spain aspires to create a zone of prosperity shared with neighboring Campo de Gibraltar.

Sánchez and Sunak have held a telephone call in which Gibraltar has been one of the issues addressed, as reported by both governments in separate communications. According to London, the two have agreed on the need to reach an agreement "as soon as possible".

Said agreement, in the opinion of both heads of government, should be "beneficial for shared prosperity in the area", they have pointed out from Moncloa, stressing the "need to take the last steps in the negotiations as soon as possible".

At the end of April, the thirteenth round of talks between Brussels and the United Kingdom took place to close an agreement that regulates the bloc's relationship with Gibraltar after Brexit. Said agreement will be based on the document sealed by Madrid and London on New Year's Eve 2021, which provides, among other things, for the suppression of the Gate.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has said several times in recent months that the negotiations cannot be eternal and has made it clear that "the ball is in the court" of the United Kingdom, after Brussels and the Spanish Government moved their latest proposal to London.

According to Albares, it is a "global, reasonable and balanced agreement, so that this zone of shared prosperity can be established throughout the Campo de Gibraltar". For its part, the British government has made it clear that they are working "intensively" to finalize the agreement.

The parties have recognized the complexity of the negotiations, but also the constructive spirit in which they are being approached, especially after Sunak's arrival in Downing Street at the end of October.

London insists that the basis for the agreement be the political framework agreed between the United Kingdom and Spain on December 31, 2020, which foresees the suppression of the Gate as the main aspect but which raises the problem of border controls in the port and Gibraltar airport.

On the other hand, during their call, requested by Sunak, both have also had the opportunity to review the "excellent bilateral relations" and cooperation on issues such as energy security and the opportunity that the two countries will have to address these and other issues in the framework of the upcoming meetings of the European Political Community, of which Granada will host a summit next October.

They have also addressed issues on the international agenda, particularly the conflict in Ukraine. In this sense, according to both governments, Sánchez and Sunak, they have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal and unjustified aggression as well as the peace plan proposed by the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski.

Sunak welcomed the growing ties with Spain in economic, security and cultural matters, as well as the broader cooperation with European partners. In addition, it has valued the importance of working together on issues such as the fight against illegal immigration and energy security.