UK and Spain sign strategic bilateral framework

The UK and Spain have signed a bilateral agreement on areas including trade, security, and the environment.

This is said to complement and benefit from the UK-EU framework.

The agreement does not mention Gibraltar - although at a Downing Street meeting, both Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the successful negotiations towards a treaty.

Asked for comment by GBC, the Chief Minister said, "No bilateral agreement has been signed or agreed on Gibraltar at today's meeting".

Fabian Picardo said despite some misinterpretation by international media, Sir Keir had said simply that the strategic bilateral framework was being signed "on the back of" the work done on the treaty.

The agreement sets out plans for an annual meeting between Foreign Minister to monitor and steer bilateral cooperation. 

Areas covered in the agreement include the Economy, Trade & Innovation, Foreign & Development Policy, People & Mobility, Gender Equality & Anti-Discrimination, Climate, Energy & Green Transition, European Security & Defence, Security, Justice & Migration and Transport.

You can read the full statement from Downing Street here.