The Spanish Government wishes to open a “new relationship” with the United Kingdom – after Brexit and with a new British Executive -, in which a definitive agreement on Gibraltar is soon reached within the framework of the European Union and the best agreements are created.conditions for citizens residing in the respective countries, highlights Andalucía Information.
Spain understands that there are two levels in these ties, as diplomatic sources explained to EFE: the community level, in which “it will be difficult to have a healthy relationship if what was agreed in Brexit is not fulfilled,” and the bilateral level, which especially affects the numerous citizens living in both countries.
The sources highlighted that the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, is “flexible in the good sense of the word”, and they hoped that the deal will be “less ostentatious and vehement” than with her predecessor, Boris Johnson.
Despite everything, they recalled that Truss, who assumed leadership of the country just twelve days ago, “embodies the spirit of Brexit”, so no major alterations are expected in London’s course.
Regarding a hypothetical “time horizon” for a definitive agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom, they explained that a deadline cannot be set “because everything related to Brexit ends up blown up, there are many imponderables.”
Despite everything, they warned that an agreement must be found as soon as possible, because “on the one hand, the dialogue is already sufficiently mature, and on the other, although our will is the best, the temporary contingency measures are temporary and of contingency, they cannot be a stable framework.
Diplomatic sources acknowledged that the unanimous demand that the Brexit agreement – which came into force in January 2021 – be scrupulously complied with “takes away a bit of strength from us to advance the bilateral relationship.”
«In mobility we want the same rights for those who already lived here before Brexit. And for those who arrived later, we want the situation to be as similar as possible to that before Brexit, for example, with the recognition of driving licenses,” they added.
Along with mobility, the Spanish Government considers security and defense and trade policy as the three pillars of the future bilateral relationship.
The sources also stated that “very soon” the opening of a new Consulate in the British capital may be announced, to replace the previous one, which was highly criticized among the Spanish community in the United Kingdom.
“Between now and summer we hope to have everything completed, and before we can announce its location,” they explained, before adding that there is a digitization plan of 60 million euros thanks to EU recovery funds that will serve to modernize services. consular offices of Spain.
Foreign Affairs sees the relationship between both Royal Houses and the large colonies of citizens living in the respective countries as “two cards that we have to play” in these future ties with the United Kingdom.
And the sources explained that the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, met with his new counterpart, James Cleverly, to hold their first bilateral meeting within the framework of the upcoming Spanish-British Tertulias.