Spain Asks UK to Sign Gibraltar Deal Before Entry/Exit System Launches

The Spanish government is calling on Britain to sign the deal on Gibraltar before November, when the EU’s Entry/Exit System is set to launch.

It is important for Britain to sign the deal as soon as possible since it could prevent long queues at the entrances and exits between Gibraltar and Campo de Gibraltar once the new Entry/Exit system is implemented, Schengen.News reports. 

In November, the EU Entry-Exit System will come into effect, requiring everyone at the EU’s external borders to register before entering the zone. 

Spain Wants to ‘Seal the Deal’ for Gibraltar With the UK 
The Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, has called on the British government to act on the matter and sign as soon as possible, as this could avoid hard borders in Gibraltar. 

The EU, Spain, and the UK had agreed that Gibraltar would remain part of the EU agreements – an agreement that was reached when the UK left the Union, known as Brexit.

This call is expected to serve as a reminder to the British government, which came to power in July. Since then, there has been no progress regarding negotiations.

As Spain’s minister pointed out, signing the agreement does not have any relation to the entry/exit system, but it will affect people in Gibraltar and the EU.

EES to Make It Difficult for Gibraltarians to Move Freely to the EU 
The EU’s Entry/Exit System introduces new rules for non-EU citizens entering the Schengen Area. It registers each entry and exit to the EU and is designed to tackle irregular migration and prevent overstays in the zone. 

Gibraltar, being a British overseas territory, would fall into this category, meaning that Gibraltarians who want to cross the border have to provide their biometric data, show a valid passport, reveal their purpose for entering the country, and have sufficient funds to visit the zone. 

After many delays, the EU Entry/Exit is expected to be launched in November, although three EU countries are not yet ready to implement the system. As the Guardian explains, France, Germany, and the Netherlands have sent a letter to the EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, saying that they will not be ready in time to implement the system by the set deadline, which is November 10.

Source: https://schengen.news/spain-asks-uk-to-sign-gibraltar-deal-before-entry-exit-system-launches/