New Border Arrangements for Gibraltar Announced
British travellers heading to Gibraltar will be required to present their passports to Spanish border officials as part of a new agreement with the EU aimed at removing the land border controls between Gibraltar and Spain.
The details of this jointly-managed border have been outlined in a recently unveiled treaty between the UK and the EU, announced on Thursday. This treaty seeks to clarify the future status of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, nearly ten years after the Brexit referendum cast uncertainty over its position.
Background and Context
There has been increasing pressure to finalize an agreement ahead of the full implementation of new checks on passengers entering the Schengen zone, which is passport-free and comprises 29 mainly EU countries. These checks are set to begin in April.
According to the agreement, Gibraltar will not become an official member of the Schengen zone. Instead, travellers arriving at Gibraltar's port and airport will undergo Schengen-style border checks. Initial checks will be conducted by Gibraltarian officials, followed by "second line" checks carried out by Spanish authorities within a designated area.
This arrangement is designed to eliminate border checks at Gibraltar's land border with Spain, a crossing used daily by approximately half of Gibraltar's workforce.
Comparison and Customs Arrangements
The UK government has compared the new system to the existing procedures at London's St Pancras station, where Eurostar passengers are checked by both British and French officials prior to boarding trains to continental Europe.
Furthermore, the UK government has stated that the majority of goods destined for Gibraltar will be cleared by EU customs offices located in Spain. This measure aims to prevent the need for customs inspections at the land border.
Legal and Political Framework
Gibraltar was not included in the UK's 2021 trade agreement with the EU. The UK has previously referred to Gibraltar as the "last piece of the EU exit jigsaw."
The treaty formalizes a political agreement reached between the UK and the EU in June of the previous year. It specifies key operational details for the new border arrangements.
The treaty has been published in draft form while legal teams complete final reviews and translations. It will require ratification by both the UK and European Parliaments before coming into effect.
