Overview

• Gibraltar’s First Minister Fabian Picardo announced that a deal for Gibraltar to join the Schengen zone is '99 percent done,' leaving only a few issues unresolved.
• Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares stated that Gibraltar’s status must be resolved as part of a comprehensive UK–EU partnership, including defence and security agreements.
• Key sticking points include the role of Spanish or EU officials in Gibraltar’s airport checks and explicit guarantees of British sovereignty over the territory.
• The UK government reaffirmed its commitment to Gibraltar’s British sovereignty and stated that any agreement must have the consent of the Gibraltarian government.
• The urgency to finalize a deal has increased with the impending implementation of the EU’s Entry/Exit System, which could disrupt cross-border movement for workers and residents.