El Ministro Principal y el Ministro para Europa de la FCDO firman en Bruselas el concordato entre el Reino Unido y Gibraltar

Jul 15, 2026 Elsa Gibraltar 0

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El Ministro Principal y el Ministro para Europa de la FCDO firman en

Bruselas el concordato entre el Reino Unido y Gibraltar

Gibraltar, 14 de julio de 2026

El Gobierno de Gibraltar y el Gobierno británico han firmado hoy en Bruselas el Concordato

entre el Reino Unido y Gibraltar. El Ministro Principal, Fabián Picardo, y el Ministro británico

para Europa, Stephen Doughty, firmaron en representación de Gibraltar y el Reino Unido,

respectivamente.

La firma tuvo lugar en Ducale, la residencia del embajador británico ante la Unión Europea,

antes de la ceremonia oficial de firma del Tratado sobre Gibraltar en el edificio Berlaymont de

Bruselas.

El Concordato es un acuerdo bilateral entre los dos Gobiernos británicos. Establece cómo el

Reino Unido y Gibraltar darán cumplimiento a sus respectivas obligaciones en virtud del

Tratado entre el Reino Unido y la UE en lo que respecta a Gibraltar, incluyendo el

funcionamiento de los Comités creados según el mismo.

El Concordato establece el “doble bloqueo” en caso de rescisión.

De conformidad con el principio de “nada sobre Gibraltar sin Gibraltar”, el Gobierno del Reino

Unido no tomará, salvo en circunstancias muy excepcionales, los pasos necesarios para

rescindir el Acuerdo, a menos que dicha rescisión cuente con el respaldo de:

1. a) una moción aprobada por una mayoría de al menos tres cuartas partes del número

total de diputados del Parlamento de Gibraltar; o

1. b) una mayoría simple de los votos emitidos en un referéndum en el que participen todas

las personas con derecho a voto en las elecciones al Parlamento de Gibraltar.

Estas garantías cumplen los requisitos de la moción unánime y multipartidista del Parlamento

de Gibraltar, que condicionó la ratificación del Tratado a la conclusión satisfactoria del

Concordato y exigió que cualquier decisión futura sobre su rescisión se sometiera al pueblo de

Gibraltar mediante un referéndum o mediante una mayoría de tres cuartos en el Parlamento.

Si bien, en virtud del Derecho Internacional, el Reino Unido es el responsable último del

cumplimiento del acuerdo, según la Constitución de Gibraltar y la legislación gibraltareña, el

Gobierno gibraltareño es responsable de aplicar y hacer cumplir todo lo dispuesto sobre el

terreno, incluidos los controles y la vigilancia fronterizos, la residencia y los visados, las

aduanas, la aplicación de la ley, la lucha contra el blanqueo de capitales, la seguridad social y

otros aspectos.

El Concordato no afecta a la responsabilidad del Reino Unido en materia de relaciones

exteriores de Gibraltar. El Reino Unido sigue siendo responsable de la defensa y el

Gobernador, de la seguridad interior.

El Ministro Principal de Gibraltar, Fabián Picardo, declaró:

“El Concordato es la base sobre la que se asentará este Tratado para Gibraltar.

Establece, por escrito, lo que nuestro Parlamento y nuestro pueblo exigieron como

condición para dar su apoyo: que nunca se hiciera nada en virtud del Tratado que

fuera contrario a los deseos expresados por el pueblo de Gibraltar.

Quiero dar las gracias al Ministro Doughty y a su equipo de la Foreign, Commonwealth

& Development Office (FCDO) por el esmero y la buena fe que han demostrado en

estas negociaciones. También doy las gracias al Viceministro Principal, Joseph García, y

al Fiscal General, Michael Llamas, que han desempeñado un papel fundamental a la

hora de garantizar que cada palabra de este Concordato redunde en beneficio de

Gibraltar.

El Concordato sigue el modelo del Concordato entre el Reino Unido y Gibraltar de 2018,

celebrado en el marco del Acuerdo de Retirada, que fue firmado por el Ministro Principal y el

entonces Viceprimer Ministro británico, David Lidington.

 

 

Stephen Doughty, Ministro para Europa, Norteamérica y Territorios Británicos

de Ultramar

Carta dirigida al Ministro Principal de Gibraltar, Fabián Picardo

 

Estimado Ministro Principal:

Ahora que nos preparamos para firmar el Tratado entre el Reino Unido y la UE relativo a

Gibraltar, quería escribirle en relación a las recientes conversaciones sobre el Concordato

entre el Reino Unido y Gibraltar.

El Tratado establece un marco nuevo y sin precedentes para la relación de Gibraltar con la

Unión Europea. Tras un amplio debate a lo largo de los últimos meses, el Concordato refleja el

acuerdo político alcanzado entre nuestros Gobiernos sobre las disposiciones prácticas que

sustentan dicha relación. Quiero asegurarle que la firma del Tratado no supone el fin del

diálogo entre nuestros Gobiernos sobre estas cuestiones.

En primer lugar, se ha debatido la frase según la cual el Gobierno del Reino Unido no hará,

“salvo en circunstancias muy excepcionales”, determinadas cosas contrarias a los deseos de

Gibraltar. Dicha frase aparece en los capítulos del Concordato dedicados a la cooperación, las

medidas significativas, la resolución de controversias y la rescisión o suspensión.

Esta frase refleja el entendimiento común de que, en lo que respecta al ejercicio de las

competencias previstas en el Tratado, el Gobierno del Reino Unido se atendría a los deseos

expresados democráticamente por Gibraltar y no haría ni omitiría hacer nada que fuera

contrario a dichos deseos, salvo en circunstancias verdaderamente excepcionales.

Con ello se pretende establecer un umbral extremadamente alto y coherente con el principio

de que “no se debe decidir nada sobre Gibraltar sin Gibraltar”, al tiempo que se reconocen las

responsabilidades constitucionales del Reino Unido. Esta es la base sobre la que tanto yo como

mis colegas ministeriales hemos descrito también este acuerdo en el Parlamento.

Esto también es coherente con el principio del “doble bloqueo”, tal y como se menciona

explícitamente en el Concordato.

Considero que solo en los casos más extremos, como por ejemplo cuando hubiera un grave

impacto en los intereses esenciales del Reino Unido, tomaríamos tal medida. Francamente, me

parece inconcebible que tales circunstancias llegaran a darse alguna vez.

Lo anterior se aplica con especial fuerza a las disposiciones de rescisión o suspensión del

Concordato, que abarcan tanto una situación en la que Gibraltar solicitara al Reino Unido la

rescisión del Acuerdo, como una situación en la que el Reino Unido se propusiera rescindir el

Acuerdo sin que Gibraltar lo hubiera pedido.

Espero que lo anterior le proporcione las garantías adicionales que ha solicitado. Por último,

queda claro que las conversaciones sobre el Concordato también han puesto de relieve la

naturaleza de la relación constitucional entre el Reino Unido y Gibraltar, así como la necesidad

de evaluar cómo funciona dicha relación en la práctica.

Tras la firma y la aplicación provisional del Tratado, acogería con agrado un debate

estructurado entre nuestros respectivos Gobiernos sobre cualquier cuestión que cualquiera de

las partes considere que merece un examen más detallado a la luz del nuevo marco del

Tratado, para garantizar que este funcione de manera eficaz en lo que respecta a nuestras

respectivas obligaciones y competencias.

 

 

Espero seguir colaborando estrechamente con usted a medida que avanzamos hacia la

aplicación de este acuerdo histórico.

Atentamente,

Stephen Doughty

 

CONCORDAT CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UK-EU

AGREEMENT IN RESPECT OF GIBRALTAR

BETWEEN

HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT

BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

AND

HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR

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These arrangements concern the obligations and commitments of the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the agreement in respect of Gibraltar between

the United Kingdom, of the one part and the European Union and the European Atomic

Energy Community, of the other part (the “Agreement”).

The obligations entered into by the United Kingdom in the Agreement have been

entered into with the consent of His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and following

its full participation in the negotiations and noting the motion of the Gibraltar Parliament

of 3 March 2026 calling upon the United Kingdom to sign and ratify the Agreement. It

is on this basis that the Agreement will be signed by the United Kingdom.

These arrangements are without prejudice to the UK’s responsibility for the external

relations of Gibraltar.

The Agreement

The implementation of the Agreement will fully respect the constitutional arrangements

in place in respect of Gibraltar and in particular the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006

(the “Constitution”) and, in particular, the provision, at Section 47(3) that, without

prejudice to the United Kingdom’s responsibility for Gibraltar’s compliance with

European Union law, matters which under the Constitution are the responsibility of

Ministers will not cease to be so even though they arise in the context of the European

Union. The rights and obligations in the Agreement in respect of issues that fall within

the Gibraltar Government’s responsibilities under the Constitution will be enjoyed by

and performed by the Government of Gibraltar, and in particular the Chief Minister,

other Ministers and other relevant Gibraltar competent authorities.

Under the Constitution, and Gibraltar law, they are the authorities who have

responsibility for, and who are vested with the powers of implementation relevant to,

the areas covered by the Agreement that fall within the Gibraltar Government’s

responsibilities under the Constitution.

To this effect, where relevant, the expression “United Kingdom, in respect of Gibraltar”

used throughout the Agreement is understood to refer to the Government of Gibraltar

or to Gibraltar as the case may be and relevant obligations and responsibilities in the

Agreement vested on the “United Kingdom, in respect of Gibraltar” are vested on the

Government of Gibraltar.

The United Kingdom is ultimately responsible in international law for compliance with

the Agreement. The United Kingdom and Gibraltar recognise Gibraltar’s essential role

in assisting the United Kingdom to meet its obligations under international law.

Gibraltar commits not to do anything which would undermine the United Kingdom’s

ability to meet its international obligations.

Responsibilities

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The Government of Gibraltar will be responsible for implementing and enforcing the

provisions of the Agreement that fall within its responsibilities under the Constitution.

To this effect, the competent authorities to be notified pursuant to Article 68 of the

Agreement and pursuant to the other treaty provisions referred to in Article 68 will be

the competent authorities of Gibraltar each time they refer to matters that fall within

their responsibilities under the Constitution. These responsibilities include legislating

for, giving effect to, operationalising and any associated costs of the following pursuant

to the terms of the Agreement:

• Border checks and surveillance
• Residence, visa and asylum systems
• Customs, indirect taxation, goods regulation and tobacco traceability
• All “Level Playing Field” provisions, including for establishing the independent

authority pursuant to Article 205 of the Agreement and for naming individuals to

serve as panellists pursuant to Article 236 of the Agreement.

• Law enforcement cooperation
• Regulatory alignment
• Anti-money laundering measures
• Frontier workers’ rights and social security coordination
• Financial mechanism

The Government of Gibraltar will also be responsible for establishing the independent

consultative body under Article 248(5) of the Agreement and for constituting the joint

venture company together with the Kingdom of Spain under Article 274 of the

Agreement. The UK Ministry of Defence will be consulted on the terms of

establishment of the joint venture company for the purposes of ensuring defence

equities are out of scope.

When they concern matters that fall within the responsibilities of the Gibraltar

Government under the Constitution, the Gibraltar Government will be fully involved in

developing negotiation positions in future negotiations under the Agreement.

The United Kingdom will, without prejudice to the provisions of Section 47(3) of the

Constitution, remain responsible for Gibraltar’s external relations with the EU and

Spain. The United Kingdom will also:

• Remain responsible for Gibraltar’s external relations in negotiations and dispute

resolution mechanisms under the Agreement

• Certify documents and facilitate liaison functions as required under Article 6 of

the Agreement

• Remain responsible for Gibraltar’s defence, airspace control and military

installations

The Governor of Gibraltar will remain responsible for their special responsibilities

under the Constitution such as Gibraltar’s internal security, including the police.

Cooperation

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Where the Agreement requires the establishment of dialogue, consultation or

cooperation with the European Union, and where relevant for the purposes of

implementation of the Agreement, the United Kingdom Government and the

Government of Gibraltar will seek to develop shared and agreed positions on issues

that fall within the Gibraltar Government’s responsibilities under the Constitution.

The Gibraltar Government will nominate persons to participate in:

• the Cooperation Council established pursuant to Article 22 of the Agreement,

alongside the relevant UK Minister; and

• each of the Specialised Committees established pursuant to Article 23 of the

Agreement.

The persons nominated by the Gibraltar Government will play a leading role in such

Committees on issues that fall within the Gibraltar Government’s responsibilities under

the Constitution and, in relation to those issues, the United Kingdom Government will

not, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, adopt positions or make

decisions in those bodies without the Gibraltar Government’s agreement.

Costs

Recognising the shared interest in the successful implementation of the Agreement,

the United Kingdom Government and Government of Gibraltar will each bear the costs

for their respective areas of responsibilities (as detailed above). In case of internal

security, both sides will keep to the current practice. In case of joint responsibilities,

financial costs will in principle be met by the United Kingdom Government and the

Government of Gibraltar in an equitable manner.

Significant Actions

The UK will, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, seek prior agreement

of the Government of Gibraltar before taking any significant actions under the

Agreement at the Party level in areas of the Gibraltar Government’s responsibilities

under the Constitution. Such significant actions include in particular:

(a) any amendments to be made to the Agreement;

(b) entering into, amending or terminating any supplementing agreements

referred to in Article 4 of the Agreement;

(c) entering into, amending or terminating any of the Administrative

Arrangements referred to in the Agreement.

Dispute resolution

The United Kingdom Government and the Gibraltar Government will work closely

together in every aspect, and at every stage, of the dispute settlement procedure

established under Part 6 of the Agreement.

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Whenever a dispute concerns an issue that falls within the Gibraltar Government’s

responsibilities under the Constitution, the United Kingdom will, other than in the most

exceptional circumstances, fully consult the Gibraltar Government and follow its

wishes and views in relation to every aspect of the dispute settlement procedure set

out in Part 6 of the Agreement including, but not limited to, the initiation of a dispute

settlement procedure, the nature of compliance and temporary measures, the

suspension and termination of arbitration proceedings and the nature of mutually

agreed solutions.

The Gibraltar Government will nominate individuals willing to serve as members of an

arbitration tribunal pursuant to the sub-list to be established pursuant to Article

319(1)(b) of the Agreement.

Termination and Suspension

Consistently with the principle that the United Kingdom Government has adhered to

throughout the negotiations – “nothing about Gibraltar without Gibraltar”- and

consistently with the principle of the Double Lock, the United Kingdom Government

will exercise its powers on the termination of the Agreement pursuant to Article 66 or

Article 334 of the Agreement only following full consultation with the Government of

Gibraltar. In any event, the United Kingdom Government will not, other than in the

most exceptional circumstances, take the necessary steps with a view of terminating

the Agreement unless termination is supported by:

(a) a motion carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the total number

of Members of the Gibraltar Parliament; or

(b) a simple majority of the votes cast in a referendum of all persons entitled to

vote in elections to the Gibraltar Parliament;

The United Kingdom Government will only exercise its powers in relation to the

suspension of obligations pursuant to Article 67 of the Agreement following full

consultation with the Government of Gibraltar and will take its opinion duly into

account.

Governance

A UK-Gibraltar Joint Implementation Committee will be established to monitor

progress on implementation, resolve operational issues and review cost-sharing

arrangements annually.

Alongside Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU, the United Kingdom Government

and the Government of Gibraltar also reaffirm their intention to ensure that the valued

and historic links between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar grow, deepen and

endure.

Signed at Brussels on 14 July 2026.

STEPHEN DOUGHTY MP HON FABIAN PICARDO KC MP

MINISTER OF STATE FOR EUROPE,

NORTH AMERICA AND UK

OVERSEAS TERRITORIES

For His Majesty’s Government of the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland

CHIEF MINISTER

For His Majesty’s Government of

Gibraltar

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