Gibraltar Chief Minister Celebrates Border Fence Removal
Gibraltar's Chief Minister welcomed the removal of the territory's border fence with Spain, ending years of post-Brexit uncertainty for the economy and 15,000 cross-border workers.
Fabian Picardo, who has led Gibraltar since 2011, told Spanish newspaper El País that the new EU-UK agreement will finally allow citizens and businesses to plan ahead with confidence, according to Brussels Signal.
The agreement, signed in December 2025 after four years of negotiations, is scheduled to enter provisional application on July 15. Under its terms, all physical barriers and border checks on people and goods moving between Spain and Gibraltar will be eliminated.
Schengen-style controls at airport and port
While Gibraltar will not formally join the Schengen area, entry-exit checks will be performed at the territory’s airport and port by Spanish Policía Nacional officers working alongside Gibraltar border agents. The arrangement mirrors the setup currently in place at Eurostar terminals in London and Paris.
Immigration, policing, and justice matters will remain under the full authority of Gibraltar’s government. The territory is also set to establish a customs union with the European Union.
The deal fills a gap left by the 2020 EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which explicitly excluded Gibraltar from its scope. All 27 EU member states endorsed the texts through the Committee of Permanent Representatives in early April, with no objections raised.
Delay provides time to prepare, says Picardo
The original target date of April 10 was postponed by three months to allow for legal-linguistic reviews and translation into all official EU languages. Picardo characterized the revised timeline as a very positive development that offers certainty and additional preparation time.
Around half of Gibraltar’s population crosses the border daily, and roughly 15,000 frontier workers depend on access to the British Overseas Territory for employment. The Campo de Gibraltar region in southwestern Spain is home to approximately 300,000 Spanish citizens, many of whom rely economically on Gibraltar.
Madrid lifts tax haven designation
The Spanish government has also moved to remove Gibraltar from its tax haven blacklist after 35 years. A draft ministerial order is currently under public consultation until June 1. Gibraltar had been on the list since 1991.
Picardo met Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in Madrid on April 22 in the first bilateral meeting on Spanish soil between the two officials. Madrid had previously avoided such encounters due to its longstanding sovereignty claim over Gibraltar, dating back to the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
Gibraltar’s government has confirmed that dismantling of all physical barriers, including the Verja border fence, will begin before July 15 to ensure full compliance with the treaty. Picardo emphasized the rollout will be gradual given the operational complexity involved.
Picardo, who has announced that 2026 will be his final year as Chief Minister ahead of the 2027 Gibraltar general election, said a European Gibraltar without border fences would open a new chapter for the territory and the wider region.
With information from Brussels Signal
