BRUSSELS — Spain, Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and the European Union marked the start of a new phase in cross-border relations this week after a landmark post-Brexit agreement took effect, removing routine land border checks between Gibraltar and Spain and allowing freer movement for residents, commuters and visitors.
The treaty, formally signed in Brussels on July 14 and provisionally applied from July 15, concludes years of negotiations over Gibraltar's relationship with the European Union following Britain's withdrawal from the bloc. Officials said the arrangement is intended to safeguard the territory's economy while facilitating daily travel across one of Europe's busiest land crossings.
Thousands of people crossed the frontier without the routine passport and customs checks that had long characterized the border. Around 15,000 workers commute daily between Spain and Gibraltar, making the crossing central to the economies of both Gibraltar and Spain's Campo de Gibraltar region.
Under the agreement, Gibraltar becomes part of the Schengen free-travel area for practical border purposes while maintaining British sovereignty, a point emphasized by both London and Gibraltar's government. The longstanding dispute over sovereignty between Britain and Spain remains unresolved, with the treaty explicitly preserving each side's legal position.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the accord as "a historic agreement" that opens "a new era" more than three centuries after the dispute began, saying it would promote coexistence, stability and shared prosperity across the region.
The British government said the treaty secures Gibraltar's long-term economic future, protects British sovereignty and military operations, and provides greater certainty for businesses and workers on both sides of the frontier. Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has also welcomed the agreement, saying it enjoys the backing of Gibraltar's parliament and government.
The new framework shifts immigration controls for arrivals from outside the Schengen area to Gibraltar's airport and seaport, where Spanish and Gibraltarian authorities will conduct joint checks. Travelers arriving directly from the United Kingdom and other non-Schengen locations will be subject to the European Union's Entry/Exit System, including biometric procedures, while residents crossing the land frontier benefit from simplified arrangements.
The treaty ends the final major unresolved issue arising from Brexit concerning Gibraltar and enters into provisional application while the formal ratification process continues in the relevant jurisdictions.
