The agreement reached yesterday by the delegation headed by Minister

Arancha González Laya

on the status of Gibraltar after the imminent disconnection of the United Kingdom from the EU

is clearly insufficient for the Spanish aspirations

regarding the British colony.

It is true that the agreement, described as "historic" with an excess of triumphalism on the part of the Government, has achieved an unprecedented principle of resolution.

In a maximum period of six months, there will be no fence that has been maintained

I have separated the two territories for long years and the inhabitants of both sides will be able to enjoy

Schengen benefits

, the area of ​​free movement for citizens of EU countries.

In this way, the EU's external border will be fixed at the Gibraltarian airport and port, the mobility of workers will be made more flexible and the Rock (whose population voted mostly against Brexit) will be able to benefit from

even more beneficial customs and trade agreements with the EU than with the UK

However, although the agreements go in the right direction,

Spain has lost an opportunity to achieve its aspirations

, that pass, unavoidably, by the claim of

sovereignty over the colony

, for the joint use of the airport and for Gibraltar ceasing to be

a tax haven

whose very existence is detrimental to the entire EU.

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