Brussels Agreement (1984)
The Brussels Agreement, 1984 was an agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Spain concerning the territorial dispute over Gibraltar. The agreement was criticised by Gibraltar politicians for limiting the participation of Gibraltarians in determining their own future.
Background
The Lisbon Agreement concluded in 1980 did not provide an immediate solution to the problems resulting from the blockade of Gibraltar imposed by Franco in 1969. The border did not reopen as planned and London and Madrid continued to disagree over the interpretation of the agreement. Spain's admittance to NATO and the EU provided the impetus to finally break the deadlock in 1984.[1]
Conclusion of the agreement
The Brussels Agreement was concluded in November 1984 and implemented in February 1985.[2] Spain's application to join the EEC proved to be the key factor, as Britain linked Spain's membership with the opening of the frontier with Gibraltar and threatened to veto the application.[2] The Brussels Agreement clarified and reactivated the earlier Lisbon Agreement, which had been subject to widely differing interpretation had complicated Anglo-Spanish relations and delayed full opening of the border.[3] Under the agreement, the United Kingdom and Spain would hold talks over Gibraltar, with the British prepared to negotiate on sovereignty.[2] The agreement was signed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, and the Spanish Foreign Minister, Fernando Morán López.[4]
The key points of the Brussels agreement were:
- Provision of equality and reciprocity of rights for Spaniards in Gibraltar and Gibraltarians in Spain.
- The establishment of the free movement of persons, vehicles and goods between Gibraltar and the neighbouring territory.
- The establishment of a negotiating process aimed at overcoming all the differences between Spain and the United Kingdom over Gibraltar.
Criticism
The agreement was vocally criticised in Gibraltar[5] as although the Gibraltar Government was invited to participate, it was only as part of the United Kingdom delegation.[6] Another major deficiency from the Gibraltar perspective was that it did not allow for the discussion of differences between Gibraltar and Spain.[6] The agreement was also criticised by Gibraltar politicians as the Gibraltar delegation was expected to form part of:
| “ | the delegation of the colonising power from which it seeks in its own decolonisation. | ” |
Impact on Gibraltar politics
In the key 1988 election, the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party called for self-determination, expressed its opposition to the negotiations over the sovereignty and future of Gibraltar between Spain and the United Kingdom, and opposed to any transfer of sovereignty to Spain.[7] It also asked for the withdrawal of the negotiations on the Brussels Declaration and opposed to the Airport agreement.[7] The GSLP got 8 seats and a 58.2% of the popular vote.[7]
See Also
Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969
Lisbon Agreement, 1980
Gibraltar sovereignty referendum, 2002
Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006
Cordoba Agreement, 2006
References
Footnotes
- ↑ Melissa R. Jordine (November 2006). The Dispute Over Gibraltar. Infobase Publishing. pp. 120–122. ISBN 9780791086483. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Aldrich & Connell, 1998, pp. 19.
- ↑ Haig, 1992, pp. 127.
- ↑ Brussels Agreement The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Geoffrey Howe, and the Spanish Foreign Minister, Fernando Morán López, held a meeting in Brussels on 27 November 1984 during which they agreed the way in which the Spanish and British Governments will apply the Lisbon Declaration of 10 April 1980 in all its parts.
- ↑ Kellerman, 2001, pp. 19
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Joe Bossano, The Fight for Self-Determination, Speech to UN Decolonization Committee, 1994
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Gold, 2005, pp. 101.
Bibliography
- Dodds, Klaus (December 2004). "Solid as a Rock? Britain and Gibraltar". BBC History: 18–21.
- D. S. Morris; R. H. Haigh (1992). Britain, Spain, and Gibraltar, 1945-1990: the eternal triangle. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415071451. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- United Nations (October 2007). Yearbook of the United Nations 2005. United Nations Publications. ISBN 9789211009675. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- Anja Kellermann (2001). A New New English: language, politics, and identity in Gibraltar. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 9783831123681. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- William Godfrey Fothergill Jackson (1990). The Rock of the Gibraltarians: A History of Gibraltar. Gibraltar Books. ISBN 9780948466144. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
External links
- "Gibraltar: Little Territory, Lot at Stake". Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- Garcia, Dr Joseph. "Political History of Gibraltar". Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- Miller, Vaughne (22 MAY 2002). "Gibraltar’s Constitutional Future" (PDF). International Affairs & Defence Section. House of Commons Library. Retrieved 2011-02-04.