Gibraltar

[roger]

Gibraltar is not part of the Brexit agreement.
Therefore there is just 72 hours to reach a deal between Spain and the UK.
If there is no deal then there will be a hard border.
The only exception will be the 15,000 existing registered cross border workers.
A hard Brexit for Gibraltar will affect access to air space, custom checks and tight regulations regarding cross border movement for people living in that part of Spain who shop in Gibraltar and register their cars there.

[frankie]

That's a surprise as Northern Ireland and Isle of Man are included...
Does Gibralter need a separate agreement and how about Malta?

[roger]

Malta is an independent member of the EU so is part of the agreement.
Some years ago Spain got agreement that any deal would not apply to Gibraltar without the agreement of Spain.
There has been regular meetings for months between the UK and Spain.
So far the UK will not agree to the Spanish proposal which will guarantee sovereignty of Gibraltar but would include it within the EU border for customs and general movement.

[frankie]

I wonder how the residents of these islands feel about this and has there been media coverage?  Fascinating!

[roger]

Gibraltar media has been full of this for several years.
It would be better for Gibraltar if it declared independence and joined the EU.
Most Gibraltar residents have no link to the UK.
Most come historically from North Africa and other islands in the Mediterranean.

UK ownership is just a remnant of empire.
And most of what is now Gibraltar is on reclaimed land and didn't form part of the treaty of Utrecht.

[roger]

Just announced,
Gibraltar will join the Schengen area.
Therefore for practical purposes part of the EU.

And of course northern Ireland is now part of the EU customs zone.

Plus
No tariffs IF the UK follows EU rules.

Well done Boris.

[Judi_bk]

This is an interesting article about the negotiations

https://www.politico.eu/article/5-reasons-uk-failed-brexit-talks/

Personally I doubt the Brexiteers would have backed Boris's deal but  for Covid and particularly those recent queues of lorries at the ports.

[frankie]

How many who voted to leave will be rejoicing in 12 months time?
I do not think UK expected the vote to go to leave, so were wrong footed from the beginning, playing catch up throughout the past 4 plus years..