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Brexit

Border fluidity is ‘top priority’ for UK Government, report says

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Ensuring the fluidity of the Gibraltar-Spain border is a “top priority” for the UK Government, according to a no-deal readiness report published by the Department for Exiting the European Union.

The report stated that the UK Government recognises the importance of the Gibraltar-Spain border.

To this end, it highlighted that over 15,000 frontier workers from Spain and other Member States, as well as UK nationals living in Spain, crossing the border every day, in addition to a similar number of residents and tourists.

“Ensuring the fluidity of the Gibraltar-Spain border, to support the prosperity of both Gibraltar and the wider region, is one of our top priorities,” the report read.

The report sets out all the work that has been done over the past few months, and the steps taken by the UK Government to prepare for a no-deal Brexit on October 31.

It comes as the Gibraltar Government published its own no-deal Brexit report which provides a stark reading of what individuals and businesses should do ahead of a potential no deal departure from the bloc.

Additionally, the report stated that the UK has ensured Gibraltar will maintain its current access to the UK, in areas such as financial services, online gaming, healthcare and education, if the UK leaves without a deal.

“Since 24 July 2019 activity continues on the above workstreams, and the UK Government continues to work closely with the Overseas Territories on mitigating the impacts of a no-deal,” it added.

“The Government of Gibraltar is responsible for its own contingency planning and communications to its citizens, and the UK Government is working closely to support the Government of Gibraltar’s preparations, including through regular Ministerial meetings such as the UK-Gibraltar Joint Ministerial Council.”

“The Government of Gibraltar is working to put in place contingency plans to ensure the provision of public services; to ensure suppliers, other businesses and individuals are prepared for different scenarios; to manage traffic and other issues in the event of delays or changes in procedures at the border; and to increase Gibraltar’s overall resilience under any scenario.”

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