The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Under the new arrangement, Gibraltar residents will be able to cross the border using residence cards without passport stamps, while Spanish citizens can do so with government-issued ID cards. The move is expected to significantly reduce delays for the roughly 15,000 cross-border workers who commute daily.
Those arriving at Gibraltar’s airport will now undergo passport checks by both Gibraltar and Spanish border officers, using a model similar to that employed by French police at London’s St. Pancras station for Eurostar services.
The British Foreign Office said the deal would avoid “onerous checks” and ensure smoother transit across the frontier, which has often been a flashpoint in EU-UK tensions since Britain formally left the bloc in 2020.
“We have reached an agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again,” said UK Foreign Minister David Lammy.
European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic called the deal “the removal of the last fence in Europe,” while Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo hailed the agreement for bringing “legal certainty” to both residents and businesses.
Spain had pushed for a deal ahead of the EU’s implementation of new biometric entry requirements for non-EU nationals, a system Britain is not part of. Previous sticking points included the role of Spanish officials at Gibraltar’s airport and port facilities, particularly regarding the Schengen Area’s border protocols.
With the new accord, the EU and UK aim to close a key chapter in their post-Brexit negotiations, offering renewed stability for Gibraltar and its neighboring Spanish region.
Tensions flared up in the Middle East as tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated to the point where the stakes cannot be any higher.
Israel’s military is bracing for a long-term conflict, with IDF officials warning of expected Iranian retaliation and ongoing operations in Gaza.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for national unity and urged citizens to trust the government following Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program, warning that more violence could follow after Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian targets.
A Hezbollah official says the group will not act independently in response to Israeli strikes on Iran, expressing solidarity with Tehran but stopping short of direct retaliation.
Tensions flared up in the Middle East as tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated to the point where the stakes cannot be any higher.
Israel’s military is bracing for a long-term conflict, with IDF officials warning of expected Iranian retaliation and ongoing operations in Gaza.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for national unity and urged citizens to trust the government following Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has appointed new senior military officials in a decree issued on Friday.
Israel’s targeted airstrikes across Iran on Friday have resulted in the deaths of high-ranking commanders and senior nuclear scientists, dealing a major blow to Iran’s military leadership and technical expertise.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Israel’s military is bracing for a long-term conflict, with IDF officials warning of expected Iranian retaliation and ongoing operations in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program, warning that more violence could follow after Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian targets.
A Hezbollah official says the group will not act independently in response to Israeli strikes on Iran, expressing solidarity with Tehran but stopping short of direct retaliation.
The Lebanese government has firmly warned Hezbollah against participating in Iran’s retaliation against Israel, signaling a sharp rebuke of any unilateral military action by the group.
The IAEA has confirmed there was no increase in radiation levels at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility following Israeli strikes, easing immediate fears of a nuclear incident.
Tensions flared up in the Middle East as tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated to the point where the stakes cannot be any higher.
Israel’s military is bracing for a long-term conflict, with IDF officials warning of expected Iranian retaliation and ongoing operations in Gaza.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for national unity and urged citizens to trust the government following Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has appointed new senior military officials in a decree issued on Friday.
Israel’s targeted airstrikes across Iran on Friday have resulted in the deaths of high-ranking commanders and senior nuclear scientists, dealing a major blow to Iran’s military leadership and technical expertise.
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