Gibraltar, a British overseas territory with self-governance located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, has a population of roughly 40,000 but depends on approximately 15,500 workers commuting daily from Spain.
The removal of border checkpoints between Spain and Gibraltar was described by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday as healing «an open wound,» coinciding with the implementation of an agreement guaranteeing free passage across the border.
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During the event commemorating the dismantling of the metal barriers dividing La Línea de la Concepción in Spain from the small British territory, Sánchez emphasized the significance of ending routine border inspections.
«For decades, this border fence symbolized an open wound for thousands of daily cross-border workers,» stated the Socialist leader.
«Today marks a historic moment, positive history, as the final wall on continental Europe is coming down,» he added, noting that the agreement ushers in a «new era» of mutual prosperity for the area.
The event, which saw Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in attendance, followed the midnight commencement of border-free passage between Spain and Gibraltar.
Gibraltar, a self-governed British territory situated at the southern extreme of the Iberian Peninsula, hosts a population near 40,000 but depends on around 15,500 daily workers who cross over from Spain.
During peak times, extensive queues commonly formed at this land border as identity documents underwent checks, particularly amid diplomatic tensions between Britain and Spain, which claims sovereignty over the territory nicknamed «The Rock.»
Following Britain’s 2020 departure from the European Union, an agreement reached between Brussels and London has eliminated border inspections.
The treaty was formalized in Brussels on Tuesday.
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič participated in the signing alongside ministers from Britain and Spain as well as Gibraltar’s Fabian Picardo.
Prior to the ceremony, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated in a radio interview that the agreement «marks a new chapter» for Gibraltar and neighboring Spanish regions, generating «substantial opportunities.»
‘Muy positivo’
A streamlined border will simplify recruitment and retention of Spanish-resident employees by businesses in Gibraltar, since crossing delays have been a considerable inconvenience, stated Owen Smith, leader of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses.
«It has strongly affected retention, and a smooth border will undoubtedly ease daily life,» he told AFP, calling the change «extremely positive.»
The agreement integrates Gibraltar under the regulations of the Schengen Area, which allows travel across most of Europe without passport checks.
This milestone followed extensive negotiations involving Spain, Britain, and the EU.
Nonetheless, travelers arriving from countries outside Schengen will still be required to present passports at Gibraltar’s airport and seaport.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez plans to visit the border area on Wednesday, where workers have recently dismantled the old chain-link fences dividing the two territories.
He praised the new protocols as dismantling «the last wall» within the EU, asserting they will foster an area of joint prosperity.
Fabian Picardo described the deal as erasing «the physical barriers linked to a past era of disputes» while preserving Gibraltar’s sovereignty over its own entrance.
Espada de Damocles
The border closure was imposed by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1969 after Gibraltar, which depends on London for defense and foreign affairs, overwhelmingly voted in a referendum to remain under British rule.
This 13-year closure interrupted daily worker crossings from Spain and split families.
Since then, border delays at Gibraltar have frequently recurred during diplomatic tensions over the sovereignty question, resulting in tighter Spanish controls.
«It’s crucial that this precarious situation disappears,» stated Manuel Triano Paulete, secretary general of the CCOO union in Spain’s Campo de Gibraltar region surrounding Gibraltar, explaining that cross-border workers often faced uncertainty about their commute duration.
Gibraltar’s economy is centered on financial services and online gaming; the territory, which spans just under seven square kilometers, boasts one of the world’s highest incomes per capita.
It has historically served as an economic lifeline for residents of Campo de Gibraltar, a region in Spain with one of the country’s highest unemployment rates.
Since Gibraltar was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, control over the territory has been a subject of dispute between London and Madrid.
Fuentes adicionales • AFP