The mayor of Algeciras, José Ignacio Landaluce, has expressed his uncertainty about the meeting scheduled for this Monday between the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, and the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. During this meeting, "the full spectrum of the bilateral relationship" between both governments will be discussed, with the negotiation of the Treaty on Gibraltar being a significant part of the agenda.
Landaluce laments that, as of today, "we still do not know what proposal Spain is bringing to this new meeting" and urges the government to clarify "on what terms the future agreement will be proposed, which we will defend to the hilt, as long as it benefits the Campo de Gibraltar."
What we will not overlook, continues the mayor of Algeciras, is the passing of time while waiting for an agreement without the government fulfilling its commitments. "The first cabinet meeting presided over by Pedro Sánchez approved a Comprehensive Plan for the Campo de Gibraltar, announcing an investment of nearly one billion euros, with the involvement of up to 12 ministries," he recalls. "Six years have passed, and that plan, which would have been a good tool to prepare us for a definitive agreement or to mitigate the effects of a possible no-deal scenario, is still nowhere to be seen."
For the mayor of Algeciras, "it is essential that we work together to ensure that the agreement is fair, sustainable in the long term, and just for the residents of the Campo de Gibraltar and its workers, as well as to understand in greater detail what systems will be implemented to structure this agreement across all areas."
"We need to consider whether the issues being discussed benefit everyone or only Gibraltar. We want and need the best deal for everyone, the best for cross-border workers, and the best for the Campo de Gibraltar, for businesses and its residents, creating wealth, prosperity, and employment," Landaluce concludes.