The United Kingdom and the European Union have reached a landmark agreement on Gibraltar, a British territory that has been trying to untangle Brexit complications for years. The new agreement includes opening the border with Spain, abolishing passport controls and Gibraltar joining the EU customs union.
The parties agreed to establish dual controls at the border between Gibraltar and the Schengen area at the port and airport of Gibraltar, abolishing all checks at the checkpoint between Gibraltar and La Línea, through which thousands of people pass daily in both directions. For the EU, full checks at the Schengen border will be carried out by Spain. For the UK, full checks at the border of Gibraltar will continue as they do now. The procedure for issuing visas and permits has also been agreed.
Despite the opening of the borders, European and British authorities will maintain a joint control system at Gibraltar Airport, similar to the one already in place at St Pancras station in London. This decision aims to preserve the integrity of the Schengen area without compromising security.
Tax issues
Gibraltar has also agreed to review some of its tax policies, particularly with regard to tobacco excise duties, to bring them into line with European standards. Albares stressed that the process of fiscal convergence would ensure fair treatment for all. However, this has raised concerns in some local economic sectors.
Although the agreement was welcomed by the Gibraltar government, it was not welcomed by everyone. Critics, especially among Brexit supporters, fear that it could undermine British sovereignty. “Our sovereignty is not in question,” Gibraltar Minister Fabian Picardo assured, promising that the future of generations of Gibraltarians would be protected.
World reaction
José Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “The last border in continental Europe will disappear. This agreement will bring prosperity and legal certainty to all parties.”
Maroš Šefčovič, representative of the European Commission, said: “This is a truly historic moment in relations between the EU and the UK.”
David Lammy, British Foreign Secretary, believes: “The UK’s sovereignty over Gibraltar remains intact. We have achieved stability and protection for the interests of the enclave’s residents.”
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory with a population of around 34,000. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 96% of local residents voted to remain in the EU. The agreement closes one of the last painful issues remaining after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
