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.
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Russia launched an overnight drone assault on Kyiv, injuring at least 14 people and causing fires and damage across the capital, Ukrainian officials said early Friday. Twelve of the injured were taken to hospital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded no progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
At least seven people remain missing following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Esparto, Northern California, according to a report by NBC News citing local officials.
Azerbaijan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), and hosting the 17th ECO Summit in the country highlights its growing role and engagement within the organisation.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Hamas is seeking firm assurances that a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal will ultimately bring the Gaza conflict to an end, a source close to the group said on Thursday, as Israeli airstrikes continued across the territory, killing at least 59 people, according to local health officials.
Russia launched an overnight drone assault on Kyiv, injuring at least 14 people and causing fires and damage across the capital, Ukrainian officials said early Friday. Twelve of the injured were taken to hospital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded no progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
At least seven people remain missing following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Esparto, Northern California, according to a report by NBC News citing local officials.
A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by MP Qaya Məmmədov, took part in the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), held 28 June to 3 July in Porto, Portugal.
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