Spain and the European Commission have submitted proposals to the UK to keep the land border with Gibraltar open as part of a final solution to the enclave’s post-Brexit status. Thus wrote the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Hours before the Brexit deal went into effect, Spain, the United Kingdom and the European Union agreed that Gibraltar would remain as part of the existing EU arrangement as the Schengen area and that the Spanish police would remain Gibraltar’s port and airport pending a final solution.

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Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told local and regional authorities near Gibraltar today that the European Union and Spain have sent a joint proposal to Britain to run the region in mutual prosperity.

Confidence in a deal

The British ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said yesterday he was confident of a deal this year. The plans now before us include removing the border fence, allowing free passage of people between Spain and the enclave, according to a Spanish statement. As many as 15,000 people commute to and from Gibraltar every day.

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“Spain must take control,” the statement said. “Not only in the interests of the Schengen area, but also in the interests of Gibraltar’s outer borders. This enables us to continue to perform certain functions and actions necessary to ensure the integrity and security of the Schengen area.’