Gibraltar treaty reflects pragmatism, partnership and progress Garcia tells Liberal Democrats - 676/2025

The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia has said that the proposed Gibraltar treaty with the EU is an example of pragmatism, partnership and progress in action. He said it will reflect the closer relationship with the European Union which Gibraltar voted for in 2016 and added that it will not impact our British sovereignty.

Dr Garcia was speaking at the Gibraltar government event in Bournemouth to Liberal Democrat politicians and delegates during their party conference. The Deputy Chief Minister had only arrived in Bournemouth in the early hours of Monday morning, after a hectic travel schedule, in time to put across the position of the Government.

He set out that the new UK-EU Gibraltar treaty was based on respect, for the right to self-determination, the right to remain a part of the British family of nations, and the right to remain open, connected and linked to the European Union at the same time.

Lord Jeremy Purvis, the Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, pledged the party's continuing support for the sovereignty of Gibraltar and for the right of its people to determine their own future.

The Deputy Chief Minister also contributed to a panel discussion on the subject of "Rebuilding our relations with the EU, developing our regional economies". He shared the platform with Helen McGuire MP, the Lib Dem Shadow Defence Secretary, Lord Purvis of Tweed, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and Dr Al Pinkerton MP, the party's spokesman on Northern Ireland who is himself a recognised academic expert on the UK Overseas Territories and on borders.

The impact of Brexit on different parts of the British family of nations was discussed in some detail. Dr Garcia pointed out the importance of a fluid land border between Gibraltar and Spain to the current economic model. He explained how 15,000 workers a day, ten million tourists a year and thousands of residents on either side crossed the land border on a regular basis. He outlined how the priority of Gibraltar was to arrive at a treaty which was built on different foundations to that which the United Kingdom had concluded for itself.

The panel contributions were followed by a lively question and answer session with considerable interest from the floor. Those centred on defence matters, trade issues, no treaty impact, and the process of ratification both in the UK and the EU Parliaments. In relation to the latter, Dr Garcia explained that the trigger for the UK ratification process would be a debate and a Motion of the Gibraltar Parliament itself.

ENDS