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.

Tags

News Politics UK EU