Albares visits Campo de Gibraltar ahead of imminent implementation of historic Agreement governing relations with the Rock

PRESS RELEASE 055

Albares visits Campo de Gibraltar ahead of imminent implementation of historic Agreement governing relations with the Rock

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, travelled to the Campo de Gibraltar on Thursday, where he held meetings with the mayors of La Línea and San Roque and visited the border fence and the works being carried out ahead of the imminent implementation of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar, effective from 15 July.

"This is a historic agreement, one that every democratic Government has sought and which we have finally achieved. It is also an agreement widely demanded by the region, and one that opens a new era of coexistence between two communities that once lived with their backs turned on one another and are now joining hands and walking together towards the future and development," said Albares at a press conference.

A collective success

During the day, the minister met with Juan Franco Rodríguez, mayor of La Línea - the municipality that would have suffered most from a hard Brexit - and with Juan Carlos Ruiz, mayor of San Roque and chair of the Congress's Foreign Affairs Committee.

He thanked both for their constant support throughout this process, extending his gratitude to the mayors of Algeciras, Castellar de la Frontera, Tarifa, Jimena de la Frontera, Los Barrios and San Martín del Tesorillo - some of whom were present at the briefing - and to the socio-economic stakeholders for their valuable contributions.

"The whole process of listening and dialogue I have maintained with them throughout the negotiations," said the minister, "has enabled us to reach a comprehensive agreement, covering all aspects of the relationship with Gibraltar and which also entails the removal of the fence, the last wall on the European mainland", a necessary prerequisite for the full entry into force of the rest of the agreement.

Site visit

Albares visited and toured the fence area, inspecting the works that began back in February and are expected to be completed in time for the Agreement to be fully implemented on 15 July. At the same time, the minister explained, work is underway to ensure that the remaining technical systems required to carry out both Schengen checks on people and Customs Union checks on goods are also operational by the same date.

The minister also opened an information seminar organised in conjunction with the Campo de Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce to provide a more detailed and technical overview of the preparations for implementing the Agreement. The event brought together representatives from local councils, the business sector and civil society in the region.

Finally, Albares visited the headquarters of the Área Comunicación Group in Los Barrios to mark the 70th anniversary of its founding and addressed the media at a press conference.

For images, click ​here​​​​​​.​​​​​