Lisbon Agreement (1980) facts for kids
The Lisbon Agreement was an important deal between the governments of the United Kingdom (Britain) and Spain. It was the first of many agreements they made to try and solve their disagreements about Gibraltar.
Why the Agreement Was Needed
The 1969 Constitution for Gibraltar was very clear. It said that Britain would not force any decisions on the people of Gibraltar. It also recognized their right to choose their own future. However, Francisco Franco, who was the leader of Spain at the time, believed Gibraltar should be part of Spain.
In 1969, Franco was very upset. He ordered the border between Spain and Gibraltar to be closed. This meant people could not easily travel between the two places. For the next 16 years, Gibraltar mainly relied on flights to Britain to connect with the rest of the world. The border closure made the people of Gibraltar feel even stronger about not wanting to be part of Spain.
Franco's actions made things worse. He demanded that Gibraltar be returned to Spain right away. He also started a newspaper campaign that said bad things about the people of Gibraltar. The border restrictions caused real difficulties for the people living there. These actions actually made it harder for Spain to gain support from Britain or Gibraltar for its claims.
Reaching a Deal
The situation remained stuck for a long time, even after Franco passed away. Then, Margaret Thatcher's government in Britain started new talks. These talks led to the Lisbon Agreement.
This agreement was a joint statement. It was signed by Marcelino Oreja, who was Spain's Foreign Minister. It was also signed by Lord Carrington, who was Britain's Foreign Secretary. They signed it in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 10, 1980.
The agreement started by saying: "The British and Spanish governments want to make their relationship stronger. This will help them work together in the Western world. They plan to solve the Gibraltar problem in a friendly way. This will follow the rules set by the United Nations."
See also
In Spanish: Declaración de Lisboa para niños
- Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969
- Brussels Agreement, 1984
- 2002 Gibraltar sovereignty referendum
- Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006
- Cordoba Agreement, 2006
