Addressing the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee at a meeting in Brussels last week, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo reminded everyone that Gibraltar has played a unique role in history and has had a different EU status as a result. The meeting focused on the constitutional relationship the United Kingdom has had with the European Union and what will happen to this relationship after Britain leaves the EU. For British expats who left the UK to settle into a new life in southern Spain – be it in Gibraltar itself or along the Costa del Sol in places like Marbella, Brexit has thrown up a lot of worries.
Speaking on the impact of Brexit on Gibraltar and surrounding Campo de Gibraltar region, Mr Picardo said it was problematic to estimate at present what will happen, because the UK has yet to trigger Article 50 and begin negotiations, which will then define the new relationship between Britain and EU member states. He did, however, point to the fact that, whatever political difficulties there might be with Spain over the thorny Gibraltar issue, the Rock itself and immediate surrounding area can declare that it “is a European success story to be proud of”.
The relationship, so the chief minister said, was a textbook example of two elements of the EU coming together to created economic growth, mutual prosperity and friendships across borders. Mr Ricardo added “nothing symbolises this success more clearly for both sides than a free-flowing border.”
Every day thousands of Spanish people come across the border to work in Gibraltar. “A frontier which lacks the necessary fluidity for people to be able to access their places of work would therefore put directly at risk the jobs of 10,000 European citizens who live in one member state and work in Gibraltar.”
Fabian Ricardo stressed that "Gibraltar's situation is unique. It has always had a different status in the EU to the UK.”
He called for a “sensible Brexit”, one that will provide for Gibraltar to go on being a creator of economic growth in the region, as this would be in everybody's interest. Mr Ricardo pointed out that Gibraltar was looking for a special relationship with the EU after Britain leaves membership, as this would keep borders free-flowing. He also wished that access to the single market for services would continue.
By contrast, Simon Manley, Britain's ambassador to Spain, said in a recent meeting held at the British Chamber of Commerce in Marbella that Britain's government would continue to support British businesses already established in Spain and would safeguard the rights of British expats living in EU member states – but he singularly failed to give any assurances whether EU migrants already established in Britain would also be able to remain. If Spaniards are ejected from Britain in 2019, the free-flowing border at Gibraltar could soon become a thing of the past.