Administrative Arrangement between the United Kingdom, in respect of Gibraltar, and Spain on Environmental Matters

This is the opening of the administrative arrangement between Spain and the United Kingdom (UK), for Gibraltar, on environmental matters. The UK, for Gibraltar, and Spain, together called the Participants and each one a Participant, note that, in it, "Agreement" means the treaty between the European Union (EU) and the UK on Gibraltar, as published in the Official Journal of the EU with the date 14 July 2026, marked as not yet published. They note that neither the arrangement nor any activity or measure taken in applying it or as a result of it implies any change to the respective legal positions of Spain and the UK on sovereignty and jurisdiction in relation to Gibraltar. They also note that the arrangement, any arrangements related to it, and any measures, instruments or conduct taken in applying it, as a result of it or under it, do not affect, and will not in any other way affect, the respective legal positions of Spain or the UK on sovereignty and jurisdiction, and will not be the basis for any assertion or denial of sovereignty, including in legal proceedings or otherwise. They recognise the importance of maintaining EU levels of environmental protection in line with the treaty, which contributes to sustainable economic and social development, and of continuing good environmental practice, in both Gibraltar and the surrounding area, in particular the territory of the municipalities that make up the Mancomunidad de Municipios del Campo de Gibraltar. They are mindful of the importance of protecting and improving the environment for the wellbeing of present and future generations. They recognise that environmental pollution can cross borders and that the fight against pollution is only effective within close international cooperation, and they have decided as follows.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, a Technical Committee (called the Committee) will be set up to deliver closer cooperation on environmental protection. It will be for the exchange of information and a forum for dialogue between the competent authorities on matters covered by the treaty and by the multilateral environmental agreements the treaty refers to, and on other environmental matters that are considered of interest. The Committee's objective is to achieve a better understanding of environmental practices in Gibraltar and the surrounding area, and to create greater synergies that help improve cooperation.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, the Committee will discuss the environmental matters listed in another article of the treaty, as well as environmental matters arising under the multilateral environmental agreements the treaty refers to, or any other environmental matters that are considered of interest.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, the Committee will be convened after this arrangement takes effect. Its ordinary sessions will take place once a year, alternately in Gibraltar and Spain. Extraordinary sessions will be held in Gibraltar if the UK, for Gibraltar, convenes them, or in Spain if Spain convenes them. A coordinating chair of the Committee will be set up and will rotate between the competent authorities every year. Representatives of the central governments of Spain and the UK will take part in all meetings of the Committee, in addition to any other representatives the competent authorities may choose to represent them on the Committee, which for Spain may include regional and local governments that have competence on the matter. The Committee's working methods will be agreed in rules that the competent authorities of the Participants will approve.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, on the protection of the marine environment and marine species, the competent authorities will: promote prevention actions based on the precautionary approach, discuss possible coordination of their activities on the control and eradication of invasive exotic species, and exchange the corresponding scientific data; for scientific research vessels that intend to carry out activities in this area, inform the Committee, with reasonable notice before their activities begin, of their route, the duration of their activities, their objectives and any other matter the Committee may consider relevant; exchange information about fishing activities and their management, including the accidental catch (bycatch) of marine protected species, and about the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; and exchange information on ship refuelling activities, with the aim of promoting the highest environmental protection standards in line with applicable EU standards and environmental legislation.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, on waste, the competent authorities will: exchange information on their respective legal frameworks on waste management and on effective compliance with those frameworks; exchange information on waste prevention and management, in particular municipal, construction, demolition and sanitary waste; exchange information on the treatment of urban and industrial wastewater; build smooth working relations to better enforce their respective legal frameworks on operations involving the cross-border transfer of waste, which must in any case comply with the regulations of the receiving Participant; exchange information and build smooth working relations on extended producer responsibility and on how their respective legal frameworks on it are complied with; exchange information, build smooth working relations and do their best to resolve any operational issues with application permits for cross-border waste shipments; and exchange information and experience on clean or less polluting technologies, to minimise waste production and achieve better waste management.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, on air quality, the competent authorities will make it easier to exchange data and information on emissions and air quality that allow an assessment of the necessary measures to be taken where appropriate, in particular for emissions from industrial plants and activity in the area.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, on environmental impact assessments across borders, the competent authorities will use the forum the Committee offers to make discussion easier on their obligations, including on landfilling, waste water and air pollution, that arise under the treaty and the multilateral environmental agreements it refers to, including a convention on environmental impact assessment across borders signed at Espoo on 25 February 1991 (the Convention). The Committee will promote compliance with these obligations.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, if a proposed activity in the territory of one Participant, including one on landfilling, waste water or air pollution, is likely to cause a significant harmful effect across the border on the environment of the other Participant, the Participant of origin will notify the affected Participant as early as possible and no later than when it informs its own public about the proposed activity. It will do so to allow the other Participant to say whether it intends to take part in the environmental impact procedure, and to ensure adequate and effective consultations under a rule of the Convention. As another rule of the Convention requires, the notification will indicate a reasonable time within which a response under a further rule of the Convention is required, taking into account the nature of the proposed activity. The time within which a response is required will not be less than 30 days.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, when a Participant considers that it would be affected by a significant harmful effect across the border from a proposed activity, and no notification has taken place in line with a rule of the Convention, the other Participant will, at the request of the affected Participant, exchange information in line with another rule of the Convention. This also applies to projects being developed at the time this arrangement is signed, and more specifically to landfilling activities, wastewater and air pollution.

Under the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters, the Participants may inform the EU-UK treaty committee on economy and trade, set up under the treaty, of any differences that arise between them on the carrying out of obligations that apply under the treaty and that are not resolved through consultation in the Committee. This does not affect any rules of the treaty on the settlement of disputes.

The administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters may be changed at any time by mutual agreement of the Participants, expressly in writing.

The administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters will come into effect on the date of the last signature and will come into operation from the date the treaty enters into force.

Either Participant may end the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters by written notice through diplomatic channels. This arrangement will then stop having effect on the first day of the twelfth month after the date of the notice. If the treaty is ended, this arrangement will no longer be in force.

A closing statement of the administrative arrangement between Spain and the UK, for Gibraltar, on environmental matters says that the record before it sets out the understandings reached between the UK, for Gibraltar, and Spain on the matters it refers to.

Signed at Madrid on 25 June 2026: for the UK, for Gibraltar, by Sir Alex Ellis, Ambassador to Spain and Andorra; and for Spain, by Carlos Moreno Blanco, Secretary General for the European Union.