Border controls on individuals and items between Gibraltar and Spain will stop to exist initially of 2026, a brand new report on The Rock’s post-Brexit deal suggests.
The Gibraltar border crossing is now on account of be eliminated initially of 2026, in response to a brand new report in main Spanish day by day El País.
This may put an finish to many years of frequent hold-ups at La Verja (The Fence), the border put up which separates Gibraltar and the southern Spanish city of La Línea de la Concepción.
This follows the ratification of the brand new Gibraltar Treaty between Brussels, Madrid, London and Gibraltar final June, and which is anticipated to be finalised in October.
If all goes to plan, this can lastly imply no border controls on individuals and items, making a customs union with the European Union. It’s also set to align Gibraltar’s tax system with EU requirements.
READ ALSO: 90-day rule, borders and taxes – What the Gibraltar deal means in practice
There will probably be new taxes on items together with tobacco, and the port and airport will probably be beneath joint management by the Spanish and Gibraltarian police.
The mayor of La Línea, Juan Franco, welcomed the information in an announcement to Spanish radio station SER, but in addition stated that he needed extra details about how the brand new association would work in apply and the way it could have an effect on his municipality.
“We welcome the truth that the border has an finish date, however we want particular particulars to plan the affect on La Línea,” he stated.
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Subsequent week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is because of go to London to fulfill with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focus on the ultimate particulars of the treaty.
This follows years of negotiations to settle Gibraltar’s post-Brexit standing, which shares a land border with Spain and, by extension, the EU.
Again in June 2025, EU announced that it had come to an agreement with the UK, Spain and Gibraltar, however on the time it wasn’t clear precisely what had been determined and what would occur on the border.
The goal of eradicating the bodily border is to facilitate the motion of some 15,000 individuals who journey day by day between Gibraltar and Spain. Many Andalusians in actual fact work in Gibraltar and Gibraltarians usually have enterprise and household ties to the realm throughout the border in Spain.
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The settlement is about to create ‘twin’ EuroStar-style border controls carried out by each Gibraltarian and Spanish officers on the port and airport, whereas most controls on the border crossing between Gibraltar and La Línea will probably be eliminated.
Presently, time spent in Gibraltar doesn’t depend in the direction of the 90 days in any 180 days restrict that British travellers are topic to, however this will change with the EuroStar-style passport checks and the brand new Entry/Exit System (EES) when it comes into pressure.
The elimination of the border subsequent 12 months is about to mark a brand new period within the relationship between ‘The Rock’ and the remainder of Spain, significantly the neighbouring city of La Línea.
