Gibraltar is "excruciatingly close" to finalising a post-Brexit deal, according to Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.
Speaking on GB News, Picardo expressed optimism about the negotiations, saying: "We are excruciatingly close, we are almost there but it's not over until the fat lady sings and we're hoping she will be treating us to an opera very soon."
The sentiment was echoed by Antonio Costa, head of the European Council, who said on Monday that the EU and Britain were "not very far" from concluding a deal.
Picardo highlighted that one of Brexit's consequences for Gibraltar was the disappearance of British products from local shops.
Picard has vowed to make the Rock's shops 'feel more British'
GB NEWS / PA
"One of the things Brexit did for Gibraltar was it stopped the Great British banger being sold in our supermarkets. Our shelves in our supermarkets feel less British now because of Brexit," he said.
He expressed hope that the forthcoming agreements would help restore the British character to Gibraltar's retail offerings, adding: "We are hoping the deals will help our supermarkets feel British again."
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Picard spoke to Jack Carson on GB News
GB NEWS
A key issue in the negotiations concerns the daily movement of workers across the frontier between Gibraltar and Spain.
"15,000 people come into Gibraltar every day to work. That's half of the population of Gibraltar and half of the working population of Gibraltar," Picardo explained.
He noted that these workers must cross the Schengen frontier daily, emphasising: "If they had to do full passport formalities, it would take them longer than the working day to come into Gibraltar."
The Chief Minister stressed that the solution lies in creating better movement across borders.
The flag of Gibraltar, flies over the Foreign Office in Whitehall, London, during Gibraltar's National DayPA"We need fluidity, not freedom of movement, fluidity of people across that frontier into Gibraltar and back into the European Union and the same is true of goods," he said.
This fluidity would address both the practical challenges for workers and the commercial issues affecting Gibraltar's shops and businesses in the post-Brexit landscape.
Picardo indicated that while the negotiations are nearly complete, there are still final details to be resolved.
"I wouldn't say there are sticking points - there are final issues to be resolved. My view, and I think it's the view of all of us around the negotiating table is we've reached the point of no return," he said.
The Chief Minister's comments suggest that both sides have made significant progress in addressing the complex post-Brexit relationship between Gibraltar and the EU.
Despite the remaining challenges, Picardo expressed confidence that an agreement is within reach.
"We can see the finish line, we are almost there. We just need to get it to the finish line and be able to finish the whole package of agreements that will come into effect if we're able to get there," he said.
The deal, once finalised, promises to address the practical challenges that have affected Gibraltar since Brexit, restoring both commercial connections and easing daily cross-border movements.
