The UK and the European Union have reached a post-Brexit agreement regarding Gibraltar’s status.
Negotiations concerning the Spain-Gibraltar border have been ongoing since the UK’s 2020 EU departure.
This agreement eliminates the need for border checks on goods and people crossing between Spain and the British Overseas Territory.
Joint passport control by Gibraltar and Spanish officials will be implemented for travelers arriving at Gibraltar Airport.
Spanish officials retain the right to deny entry, facilitating onward travel to Spain and the EU’s free movement area without further checks.
This mirrors the system at London St Pancras, where Eurostar passengers undergo both UK and French passport control before boarding.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated the deal safeguards British sovereignty and bolsters Gibraltar’s economy, calling it a “breakthrough” that addresses a situation inherited from the previous government which threatened Gibraltar’s prosperity and lifestyle.
Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, similarly welcomed the agreement, emphasizing its protection of future generations of British Gibraltarians without compromising British sovereignty.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in a Wednesday phone call, agreed the deal creates opportunities to strengthen UK-Spain relations. Downing Street confirmed Sir Keir also congratulated Mr. Picardo, acknowledging his significant contributions to the agreement.
Gibraltar, a 2.6-square-mile peninsula south of Spain, has been under British sovereignty since 1713, a claim disputed by Spain.
The territory’s status and its border with Spain have been key unresolved issues since Brexit, impacting the approximately 15,000 daily border crossings for work and leisure.
Currently, Gibraltar residents use residence cards, and Spanish citizens use national ID cards to cross the border without passport stamps. However, concerns arose about potential delays with the EU’s Entry/Exit system launching later this year.
The UK emphasized a clause confirming the treaty doesn’t affect Gibraltar’s British sovereignty, and that UK military facilities in Gibraltar, including the airport and RAF base, maintain full operational autonomy.
Gibraltar’s population of roughly 32,000 overwhelmingly supports maintaining British sovereignty, as evidenced by a 2002 referendum where nearly 99% rejected shared sovereignty with Spain.
Following meetings in Gibraltar and Brussels with EU and Spanish ministers, the agreement was finalized. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic lauded the deal as “historic,” Sefcovic noting it ushers in “a new chapter” in EU-UK relations.
All parties are committed to swift finalization of the UK-EU treaty text. However, Reform UK criticized the deal, while the Conservative party pledged a thorough review of the legal text.
The Liberal Democrats welcomed the agreement as a step toward a UK-EU trade deal but stressed the need for parliamentary scrutiny.
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