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British guests to Gibraltar may face Schengen Space checks on landing, in accordance with the minister conducting post-Brexit negotiations with the European Fee.
At current passengers arriving at Gibraltar airport undergo the territory’s passport management. Travellers who want to enter Spain – a part of the Schengen Space – go via a separate frontier publish a number of hundred metres away.
However the Europe minister, Leo Docherty, advised MPs on the European Scrutiny Committee has stated that new proposals would see the present Gibraltar-Spain border disappear.
“As a substitute, these arriving in Gibraltar would go via Gibraltar immigration, adopted by Schengen immigration,” he writes.
This association would seem to require British travellers to adjust to the complete vary of post-Brexit necessities, together with restrictions on passport validity.
As a substitute of the current guidelines, which permit entry to Gibraltar as much as and together with the expiry date of the passport, the doc would have to be lower than 10 years outdated on the day of arrival and have at the least three months remaining on the day of departure.
As well as, any time spent in Gibraltar may depend in the direction of the utmost of 90 days’ keep in 180 days, which the UK negotiated as a part of the Brexit settlement. Many British travellers, significantly these with properties overseas, have seen their actions restricted by this rule.
The Overseas Workplace at the moment says: “Gibraltar is just not a part of the Schengen Space. British nationals don’t want a visa to enter Gibraltar for visits, examine or work.”
However assuming full Schengen Space guidelines are utilized, British folks travelling for work or examine might have visas.
Mr Docherty sought to allay the issues of MPs on the committee by saying: “We’re looking for to conclude the sensible particulars of a mobility association with the Schengen Space, not membership of it.
“Guaranteeing fluid motion of individuals throughout the border with Spain has been the important thing space of dialogue.
“The UK will solely conform to phrases that the Authorities of Gibraltar are content material with and won’t conform to something that compromises sovereignty.”
The minister additionally stated that some type of joint use of the territory’s airport – “to facilitate flights between Gibraltar and the EU” – was beneath dialogue.
“This might additional the financial alternatives of the area,” he wrote.
The letter introduced a livid response from Sir William Money, chair of the European Scrutiny Committee. He wrote to Mr Docherty: “It’s with nice concern that I learn your letter dated immediately on UK/EU Gibraltar negotiations.
“What you describe, in impact, as having been agreed in precept between the Authorities and the European Fee is deeply troubling. The Authorities has been clear on its pink strains concerning Gibraltar negotiations, together with points pertaining to sovereignty, jurisdiction and management.
“Discuss of Schengen border checks in Gibraltar, the notion of a ‘degree enjoying discipline’ for cross border commerce and ‘flexibility’ concerning joint UK/Spain administration of Gibraltar airport is alarming and doesn’t accord with what you’ve beforehand described to us regarding the Authorities’s strategy to – and progress of – Gibraltar negotiations.”
In his letter, Sir William “requires” Mr Docherty to look earlier than the committee immediately.
He ends by writing: “Given the seriousness of this problem, I’m copying this letter to the Prime Minister.”
Watch Simon Calder’s movie on 48 Hours in Gibraltar
