King Felipe VI Hails 'Historic' Gibraltar Pact at UN General Assembly

King Felipe VI Addresses UN General Assembly

During his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Spain's King Felipe VI lauded a significant political agreement concerning a future UK/EU treaty on Gibraltar. The monarch described the pact as 'historic' and highlighted its expected role in fostering 'confidence, legal certainty, and stability' for the populations of both Gibraltar and the surrounding Campo de Gibraltar region.

Details of the Landmark Agreement

The core aspects of this agreement were announced on June 11, 2025, following extensive negotiations between the United Kingdom, the European Union, Spain, and Gibraltar. The primary objective is to remove all physical barriers, checks, and controls on persons and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar.

Key provisions of the political agreement include:

• Movement of Persons: The physical infrastructure of the Gibraltar border will be removed. Gibraltar is set to be effectively incorporated into the Schengen zone, allowing for fluid movement. Dual checks will be implemented at Gibraltar's port and airport, with Spanish authorities conducting Schengen checks and Gibraltar authorities maintaining their own existing checks.
• Movement of Goods: A customs union will be established between Gibraltar and the EU, eliminating the need for checks on goods. Principles of indirect taxation, including on tobacco, will also be applied in Gibraltar to prevent distortions and contribute to regional prosperity.
• Sovereignty: The agreement explicitly states it is 'without prejudice to the respective legal positions of Spain and the United Kingdom with regard to sovereignty and jurisdiction.' The UK government has affirmed that the agreement protects British sovereignty and ensures full operational autonomy for its military facilities in Gibraltar.

Years of Negotiation Culminate in Political Breakthrough

Negotiations for a comprehensive UK/EU treaty on Gibraltar commenced in October 2021, following Gibraltar's exclusion from the broader UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement post-Brexit. The political agreement reached in June 2025 represents a significant breakthrough after 19 formal negotiation rounds and numerous technical meetings. While the political agreement has been reached, the negotiating teams are now tasked with finalizing the full legal text, which will then require signature and ratification by all parties according to their internal procedures.

The pact is anticipated to bring substantial benefits, including boosting trade, cross-border employment, and tourism, and strengthening Gibraltar's status as a credible and well-regulated jurisdiction within Europe.