As an agreement is still being debated, reached and re-debated, Gibraltarians are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Making your way up the Rock in a shaky cable car, amidst the pathways that the British Army once marched, one can’t help but feel the history all around.
The small peninsula, although geographically a part of Spain, has belonged to U.K.. As a British Overseas Territory, it has an important part to play in the history of U.K.
Gibraltar has been a big point of debate and discussion in the Brexit movement and with 96% of the Gibraltarian population voting to remain, in the 2016 referendum, a decision regarding Gibraltar’s fate is yet to be made.
“Me personally I voted out of Europe because I believe [U.K.] should have their own control, like each of them get to make their own laws and businesses and not be governed by another state because otherwise it’s hard to change anything,” said Luis Edward, a member of the Liberal Party of Gibraltar and a forest ranger at the Gibraltar Natural Reserve.
In the light of the ongoing discussions on the Brexit-Gibraltar relationship, the Spanish government wanted to be able to decide the fate of Gibraltar along with demands that the Britain-EU relationship would not apply to Gibraltar.
“Being a Gibraltarian before anything else, I would still like Gibraltar to be a part of the U.K. just not the EU. I don’t understand the Union’s control in everything, because it’s impossible to change anything. We would have to go through Brussels and that’s a hassle,”
Luis Edward Diani
However, Stuart Dunn, manager of the cafeteria located on the Rock believes that since Gibraltar is a part of the U.K. since 1700, it is fair that the majority that voted to stay in the EU and still be a part of U.K.
“I agree with that because as the world is, you’ll always be able to function better as a part of a club than a single entity,” he adds.
Continuing the walk along the Rock exploring the WWII tunnels, three flags immediately catch the eye. The British and the Gibraltarian flag stand tall together while the Spanish flag, a little far away but still swaying with the wind.
Pointing to the flag, Mr. Diani said why he believes U.K. is leaving the EU is because of the freedom it will allow them to change and modify laws, which they cannot do as of now, without going through the EU.
“Me personally I believe each state should be also able to help each other as well, you know, because if you can’t take care of your own, how will you take care of someone else? So that’s something important,” he said approaching the foot of the Rock.
What Mr. Diani said reflects on the U.K.’s decision to include Gibraltar in all the negotiations and refuse demands from Spain unless special agreements have been made.
An informed decision and a deal that works for all states would be right way to go, however it is evident that a single state voting to remain is not enough to re-route or stop the course of Brexit.
The Gibraltar-U.K.-Spain trio can often be seen compared to the Northern Ireland-Ireland-U.K. issue at hand.
“One of the big fears of Brexit is the Northern Ireland border issue where they are deciding whether they do want a frontier there or don’t want a frontier and the deal with all of Europe but what do we have here? We have a frontier. We have to show our passports every time we cross over,” said Mr. Diani.
While all the discussions that are happening right now about Brexit seem to be focussed on Northern Ireland and trying to find a similar system there, according to Mr. Dunn, “It’s the same problem here with the border and they have to come up with something fast because the workers are important,” said Mr. Dunn talking about the possible border control problems that might arise.
Including Gibraltar in any Brexit deal is what the U.K. government wants. However, many Gibraltarians fear losing jobs and immigration problems, with new developments in the Brexit situation.
“Gibraltar, like any other state wants as few problems as possible. The workers are the most important because they’re taking money to the Spanish economy and Gibraltar is also benefiting from it and it can’t do with the people they have here,” said Mr. Dunn.
Mr. Dunn is one of the 17 thousand people who cross the border from neighbouring towns in Southern Spain every day for work. Many of them from Gibraltar and some who live across the border in Spain.
With unemployment being one of the problems that Gibraltar might face, as a decision is yet to be made, immigration and border control is another such issue that is likely to be impacted.
Local businesses run by non-locals are another area that fears big impact believes the owner of an Indian restaurant who wished to remain anonymous.
“I speak for us all when I say we’re for remaining in the EU only if it doesn’t affect our businesses, because all of us and the neighbouring stores would have to go back to our countries immediately as immigration is something that not only Gibraltar but the U.K. in general is dealing with at the moment,”
Indian restaurant owner
“The problem that the U.K. had was with immigration and immigration is a problem with all of Europe as well. There are so many people from European countries living here and huge number crossing from Africa. That will continue, but there needs to be an agreement within Europe on how to deal with that otherwise it will crumble right down to the middle,” said Mr. Dunn.
According to Mr. Diani, problems between the border still occur even now whenever there are minor issues between Gibraltar and Spain or U.K. and Spain. “The next thing you’ll see here is border queues and border control, it’ll just be really chaotic,” he said.
“There are around 34 thousand people living here. If we do come out of the EU, there will be a lot of employment problems, for those in Gibraltar and people like us who have settled here, but mainly for people who cross over. There will be slower queues, people won’t get to work on time with new rules,” said the anonymous Indian restaurant owner.
As Gibraltar awaits a decision from the U.K. and Spanish governments, the residents are making as many preparations as they can if Brexit eventually occurs. “If you don’t look after yourself how will you look after others? That’s the only way we can work together as well.” said Mr. Diani, as he made his way back up the rock.
