Top level treaty meeting in Brussels
The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo will attend a top level political meeting in Brussels this week with the UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, the Spanish Foreign Secretary Jose Manuel Albares and EU Commissioner responsible for relations with the UK Maros Sefcovic.
Mr Picardo will be accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, the Attorney General Michael Llamas and the Chief Secretary Glendon Martinez.
The meeting on Friday will centre on the continuing negotiations to secure Gibraltar’s future relationship with the European Union, and with our nearest EU neighbour Spain.
The Government says it will be the “highest level, multilateral negotiation ever attended by any Chief Minister of Gibraltar” and it reflects the variable geometry which has characterised such discussions ever since they commenced.
There have been eighteen formal negotiating rounds so far.
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said:
“I look forward to engaging on treaty issues with the different parties later this week. Gibraltar remains fully committed to secure a safe treaty which will govern our future relationship with the EU. If the deal on offer is not safe, then I will clearly not bring it back, but I am confident that we may be able to agree a positive and constructive way forward. I am optimistic that the meeting on Friday will very positively advance matters and move us firmly into the territory for delivery of this treaty. I know this will be very good news for people in Gibraltar and the whole region around as, as well as for the wider UK family, Spain and even the EU.”
