Spain and Gibraltar celebrate as border fence falls after signing of ‘historic deal’ | Gibraltar

Spain and Gibraltar are celebrating the demolition of the last border fence in Western Europe after the signing of a deal ending post-Brexit border controls for residents, tourists and thousands of Spanish workers entering British overseas territories every day.

The agreement, signed in Brussels on Tuesday and entered into force at midnight, marks the outcome of more than four years of negotiations between Britain, Spain, Gibraltar and the EU following Britain’s departure from the bloc.

The agreement eliminates border and customs controls to create a fluid border and gives Spain responsibility for Schengen controls at Gibraltar airport and port. This also led to the removal of the border fence that had physically separated Spain from Gibraltar since 1908.

Gibraltar, which was ceded to the British crown under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, is home to just 40,000 people and relies heavily on the 15,000 Spanish workers who cross into the territory every day. The Kaya, the region’s nickname, is also extremely important to the economy of the neighboring Campo de Gibraltar region of Andalusia.

In the previous system, long, heavy traffic queues formed at the border, especially during periods of increased tension between Madrid and London.

Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares hailed the agreement as a “historic agreement” that would ensure mutual prosperity.

“We have put an end to a long period of conflict and opened the door to a new era of coexistence for two peoples who lived apart and who, after three centuries, are now joining hands,” he said. “This is a historic agreement, a future-oriented agreement that represents a major leap forward in terms of stability and prosperity for the 300,000 Andalusians in Campo de Gibraltar.”

Gibraltar prime minister Fabian Picardo said that the agreement, which does not affect British sovereignty of the region, signals the beginning of a new era.

“The border that often divides and restricts our region will now become an area of ​​cooperation and common opportunity,” he said. “The daily lives of thousands of people will be easier, our economy will be more confident and Gibraltar’s future will be based on solid legal foundations.”

Picardo added: “We have reached this moment without giving up who we are, without compromising our British sovereignty and without weakening the constitutional protections that define Gibraltar.”

British Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty described the signing of the agreement as “a very special moment”, while European commissioner Maroš Šefčovič toasted “shared prosperity and no more barriers for the 15,000 people who cross between Spain and Gibraltar every day”.

Under the terms of the deal, Gibraltar will become a de facto part of the EU’s Schengen free movement zone and Brits flying into the region will have to go through the bloc’s new entry/exit system (EES), whose fingerprint and facial scans have caused long queues at some airports.

“I’m worried [similar queues] “Maybe” Picardo he told the Financial Times This week.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to the border town of La Línea de la Concepción at noon on Wednesday to witness the removal of the last remaining section of the border fence.

Spain had been seeking the return of its lost lands for a long time. The Brexit referendum in June 2016 led the then-conservative Spanish government to suggest that shared sovereignty might be an option.

“This is a complete change of perspective that opens up new possibilities that have not been seen in Gibraltar for a very long time,” the country’s then-acting foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, told Onda Cero radio immediately after the referendum. “I hope the formula of shared sovereignty, to be frank, the Spanish flag on the rock, is much closer than it was before.”

The proposal was rejected by Gibraltar and London and a long negotiation process began. More than 96.6 percent of Gibraltar citizens voted to remain in the EU.

The region’s connections with Spain were completely cut off when the Spanish dictator came to power in 1969. Francisco Franco orders land border closed After Gibraltar ratified a new constitution. Families were torn apart and thousands of Spaniards lost their jobs overnight. The border did not reopen until 1982.