Spain tests UK with Brexit demands over Gibraltar airport

John Ashmore

Spain's foreign minister has challenged the UK by calling for joint management of Gibraltar's airport after Brexit.



Alfonso Dastis told the Financial Times he wanted to see a bilateral deal with the UK that included "managing of the airport" and more cooperation on tax and smuggling issues.

The airport is located on a stretch of land between the Rock of Gibraltar and mainland Spain which Madrid considers part of its territory.

However Mr Dastis, who is seen as less of a hardliner on Gibraltar than some of his colleagues, insisted he was not making a fresh push to reclaim land for Spain.

“Sovereignty is something we aspire to, that we are not renouncing, but in these negotiations it is not the issue," he said.

He also called for more action to tackle tax evasion, although he stressed there had been progress in this area.

“We need some more co-operation with the Gibraltar or the UK tax authorities, but the situation has already improved,” he added.

“The Gibraltarians seem willing to co-operate; we need to see that in practice.”