Brussels Agreement, 1984 facts for kids
The Brussels Agreement, 1984 was an important agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and Spain. It was about the long-standing disagreement over Gibraltar. Many politicians in Gibraltar were not happy with the agreement because they felt it limited the say of Gibraltarians in their own future.
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Why the Agreement Happened
Before the Brussels Agreement, there was an earlier agreement called the Lisbon Agreement, 1980. However, it did not immediately solve the problems caused by Francisco Franco closing the border to Gibraltar in 1969. The border did not reopen as planned, and both London (the UK government) and Madrid (the Spanish government) disagreed on what the Lisbon Agreement meant.
Spain wanted to join NATO (a military alliance) and the EEC (the European Economic Community, now the European Union). This desire helped to break the deadlock and led to the Brussels Agreement in 1984.
What the Agreement Said
The Brussels Agreement was finalized in November 1984 and started in February 1985. Spain's wish to join the EEC was very important. Britain said it would only allow Spain to join if Spain opened its border with Gibraltar.
The Brussels Agreement made the earlier Lisbon Agreement clearer. The Lisbon Agreement had been understood differently by each side, which caused problems between Britain and Spain and delayed the full opening of the border.
Under the Brussels Agreement, the United Kingdom and Spain agreed to hold talks about Gibraltar. The British government was even ready to discuss the issue of who owned Gibraltar (sovereignty). The agreement was signed by Sir Geoffrey Howe, who was the UK's Foreign Secretary, and Fernando Morán López, who was Spain's Foreign Minister.
Here are the main points of the Brussels Agreement:
- It aimed to give equal rights to Spaniards living in Gibraltar and Gibraltarians living in Spain.
- It planned for people, vehicles, and goods to move freely between Gibraltar and the nearby Spanish territory.
- It set up a way for Spain and the United Kingdom to talk and try to solve all their disagreements about Gibraltar.
Why Gibraltar Criticized It
The agreement was strongly criticized in Gibraltar. The government of Gibraltar was invited to join the talks, but only as part of the United Kingdom's team. This was a major problem for Gibraltar. They felt it did not allow them to discuss their own differences with Spain directly.
Gibraltar politicians also criticized the agreement because they felt their delegation was expected to be part of the "colonizing power" (the UK) from which they wanted to gain more self-rule.
What Happened Next
In the important 1988 elections in Gibraltar, the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) called for self-determination. This meant they wanted Gibraltarians to decide their own future. They were against the talks between Spain and the United Kingdom about Gibraltar's ownership and future. They also opposed giving any control of Gibraltar to Spain.
The GSLP also asked for the talks based on the Brussels Agreement to stop. They were also against a separate agreement about the airport. The GSLP won 8 seats and got 58.2% of the votes in that election.
See also
- Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969
- Lisbon Agreement, 1980
- 2002 Gibraltar sovereignty referendum
- Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006
- Cordoba Agreement, 2006
