Nicosia: Today, the European Commission and the United Kingdom signed a landmark EU-UK Agreement concerning Gibraltar, marking a significant milestone in the post-Brexit era. The agreement aims to secure the future prosperity of the region and completes the legal framework of relations between the EU and the UK, following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this agreement, set to enter into provisional application on 15 July 2026, is the result of over four years of negotiations. Gibraltar was not included in the scope of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed in 2020. The newly signed agreement seeks to promote shared prosperity and foster closer relations between Gibraltar and Spanish authorities, while safeguarding the Schengen Area, the EU's Single Market, and its Customs Union.
The agreement's adoption follows the European Council's proposal on 1 July and its subsequent submission to the European Parliament for consent. Upon receiving the Parliament's consent, the Council can formally conclude the agreement. This development follows a political agreement reached in June 2025 between EU Commissioner Maro€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡ €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦ efcovic, Spanish Foreign Minister Jos© Manuel Albares, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.
€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦ efcovic expressed pride in signing the agreement, highlighting its significance in removing barriers for the approximately 15,000 people who cross between Spain and Gibraltar daily. The agreement is seen as a triumph of complex negotiation efforts that ensure shared prosperity and closer cooperation between the involved parties.