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Written question asked by Louise Ellman (Labour) on Thursday, 29 November 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 December 2018 (named day). It was answered by Robin Walker (Conservative) on Monday, 10 December 2018 on behalf of the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Gibraltar

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the recent statement he agreed with the President of the European Commission and President of the European Council, that Gibraltar will not be included in the territorial scope of agreement to be concluded between the EU and the UK (a) replaces or (b) amends the provisions of Article 24 of the Article 50 guidelines which provided for the application to Gibraltar of agreement between the EU and the UK after the UK leaves the EU; and will he make a statement.

Answer

The UK has not agreed that Gibraltar will be excluded from the territorial scope of the future relationship between the EU and the UK. The UK, in a letter to the EU Council, and the Council, in the minutes of the Special November Council, set out their shared interpretation that Article 184 of the Withdrawal Agreement, which concerns the UK and the EU’s future relationship, imposes no obligations regarding the territorial scope of future agreements. The UK also made clear we will only agree a deal on the future which works for the whole UK family and we will negotiate a deal that works for Gibraltar.

The Article 50 Council guidelines are an internal matter for the Council in Article 50 format. Statements or actions by the EU institutions or other member states have no effect on the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over Gibraltar.

On Gibraltar, we have worked constructively with both the EU and the Government of Gibraltar throughout the process of agreeing the Withdrawal Agreement. We have ensured that Gibraltar is covered by both the Withdrawal Agreement and by the Implementation Period. We look forward to taking a similar approach for the future.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
197346
Session
2017-19
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Gibraltar Brexit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk