RT journal article
T1 Foreign Minister Fernando Morán Addresses the Question of Gibraltar (1982-1985)
A1 Yáñez Barnuevo, Juan Antonio
A2 Derecho Internacional PúblicoPenal y Procesal
K1 Spanish Foreign Minister Fernando Morán
K1 Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe
K1 Accession of Spain to the European Community
K1 Brussels Declaration on Gibraltar (1984)
K1 Reopening of the Gibraltar Fence
K1 Spanish proposals on the future of Gibraltar (1985)
K1 Withdrawal of the UK from the European Union
K1 Situation of Gibraltar post-Brexit
K1 inistro de Asuntos Exteriores Fernando Morán
K1 Secretario de Negocios Extranjeros Geoffrey Howe
K1 Ingreso de España en la Comunidad Europea
K1 Declaración de Bruselas sobre Gibraltar (1984)
K1 Reapertura de la Verja de Gibraltar
K1 Propuestas españolas sobre el futuro de Gibraltar (1985)
K1 Salida del Reino Unido de la Unión Europea
K1 Situación de Gibraltar tras el Brexit
AB During his period as Spanish Foreign Minister in the first Socialist Government led by Felipe González, Fernando Morán concentrated on two main objectives: attaining Spain’s entrance into the European Community and making substantial progress on the long-standing question of Gibraltar between Spain and the United Kingdom. After two and a half years, Morán reached both aims, which were interconnected, through separate negotiations, on the EEC with Brussels and on Gibraltar with his British colleague, Geoffrey Howe, not withouth sustained contacts with local leaders in Gibraltar and its neighbouring Campo. Those efforts paid off with the Brussels Declaration of 1984 between the Spanish and British Foreign Ministers, which opened the way to the “Brussels Process” in order to deal with all differences between the two countries on Gibraltar, including the sovereignty issues; at the same time, it was agreed to advance for a year the implementation of EEC norms to the human and economic relations between Gibraltar and its surrounding area, which soon afterwards led to the “reopening of the fence” separating them through the abrogation of the restrictive measures imposed in the 1960s under the Franco regime. Both aspects were duly implemented from early 1985 at the first ministerial conference of the Brussels Process, when Morán set forth his vision of Gibraltar’s future and submitted the proposals of the Spanish Government – which are detailed in this contribution – on a transitional period for the gradual reintegration of the Rock into Spain’s national territory, while assuring a wide measure of self-government for the Gibraltarians. Recalling all this not only has a historical interest; it also has a renewed current relevance followingthe UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, as the relative position of both countries is now somehow inverted: while the UK was then a member State of the EEC at the moment when Spainwas calling at Europe’s door, now it is Spain the EU member State at a time when the UK is trying tonegotiate its future realtionship with the EU. This is something which greatly interests Gibraltar, asa territory situated on the continent, whose citizens voted by an overwhelming majority in favor ofremaining within the EU. Inevitably, by the UK’s initiative, the whole existing situation, which wasvery favourable for Gibraltar, is now in question, and Spain has at this juncture a decisive voice inthe determination of the rules that will apply to the future relations of the EU with the UK and alsowith Gibraltar. This may be considered as Morán’s lasting legacy for Spain, Europe and Gibraltar.
PB Editorial UCA
SN 2444-7382
YR 2019
FD 2019-12-20
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/23221
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/23221
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 10-may-2026