Question 16 January 2018 Clare Moody (S&D) and Ashley Fox (ECR)
Subject: Withdrawal agreement and the application of transition arrangements for Gibraltar
The Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union applies to Gibraltar. In order to ensure an orderly and smooth departure, a transitional period is being negotiated with the UK, as part of the Withdrawal Agreement.
Does the Commission agree that the enthusiastic Europeans who live in Gibraltar, who voted 96% to remain in the European Union, are also entitled to an orderly and smooth departure, as are the 13 000 EU nationals from all parts of the Union who live in Spain and work in Gibraltar?
Given that nobody has anything to gain from the non-application of transitional provisions to Gibraltar, can the Commission state whether it has any objections, in principle or in law, to Gibraltar maintaining its existing relationship with the European Union in line with any transitional arrangements negotiated with the UK for the period following March 2019?
Answer 11 April 2018 President Junker
The Commission refers the Honorable Members to the Council negotiating directives of 29 January 2018. In line with these directives, the territorial scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, including as regards the transition period, should fully respect paragraphs 4 and 24 of the European Council guidelines of 29 April 2017, notably as regards Gibraltar.
The full text of the Council negotiating directives of 29 January 2018 can be found on the website of the Council(1).
(1) http://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/32577/negotiatingdirectives.pdf