LONDON — While soccer fans in Atlanta might be chanting about the Falklands, another British Overseas Territory is currently in the spotlight.
The longstanding border between Gibraltar and Spain, in place for 118 years, is set to vanish on Wednesday, a consequence of Brexit.
Today’s development marks the end of a decade of uncertainty for this British territory on the Mediterranean, which overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU in 2016, with 95.9 percent in favor, only to be withdrawn against its will.
The daily lives of thousands who cross the Gibraltar-Spain border, including 15,000 Spanish workers, became more challenging due to stricter passport checks and complicated goods transport. In response, Brussels, London, Gibraltar, and Madrid have spent the past decade crafting an agreement to eliminate physical border controls with Spain.
This move, ironically set in motion by Britain’s exit from the EU, will leave Gibraltar’s border largely symbolic, though it remains entirely British and sovereign.
The agreement shares similarities with the experience of traveling via the Eurostar under the English Channel. Travelers arriving at Gibraltar’s airport will undergo both Gibraltarian and EU passport controls, enabling them to move freely within Gibraltar and the Schengen area after receiving approval from both authorities.
Consequently, Gibraltar and Spain will remove land border controls. Gibraltar will also adopt certain EU single market and customs rules to facilitate the movement of goods, which became more complex post-Brexit.
Despite these changes, Gibraltar maintains it will not join the EU’s passport-free Schengen area, a stance it legally upholds.
For many travelers, this will result in a seamless transition into Spain without passport checks, although Gibraltar will still manage its visa policy independently.
The formal signing of this agreement by the U.K’s Europe Minister Stephen Doughty and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is taking place Tuesday in Brussels.
This deal, a bipartisan achievement for the British, saw efforts from David Cameron, who pushed it forward during his tenure. However, progress was nearly complete in spring 2024 when an election called by Rishi Sunak delayed it by another year.
While some Tory Euroskeptics argue the agreement compromises Gibraltar’s sovereignty, the territory’s government is supportive of the plan.
Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo expressed skepticism about Brexit in the Telegraph newspaper, stating, “Brexit was sold to the British people in a false prospectus. The United Kingdom needs to seriously reconsider its relationship with the European Union, whether that is to return to membership or a much closer relationship.”
