Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking in response to the outcome of the EU referendum to maintain the existing border between Gibraltar and Spain.

Mr David Lidington

The outcome of the EU referendum does not affect the United Kingdom’s steadfast and longstanding commitment to Gibraltar. We will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Furthermore, the UK will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

Ensuring a well functioning Gibraltar-Spain border is one of our top priorities. This has not changed. It will take some time for our future relationship with the EU to become clear, but there will be no immediate changes in Gibraltar’s circumstances. There will be no initial changes in the way people can travel or the way services can be sold. Over 12,000 people will still be able to commute across the Gibraltar-Spain border every day, including a significant number of Spanish workers. As we move forward in negotiating the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, we will work in partnership with the Government of Gibraltar to ensure Gibraltar’s interests are protected and advanced.