The European Union and the United Kingdom have concluded a long-awaited political agreement on Gibraltar, resolving the last major outstanding issue left in the wake of Brexit.
The deal, announced jointly by London and Brussels on Wednesday, aims to guarantee the smooth flow of people and goods between the British Overseas Territory and neighbouring Spain.
Described by EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič as “a truly historic milestone”, the agreement introduces a new framework that links Gibraltar more closely with the EU’s Schengen free movement area while maintaining British sovereignty over the territory. The accord comes after years of stalled negotiations following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2020, during which the status of Gibraltar remained unresolved.
Under the terms of the agreement, all physical border checks and controls at the land border between Gibraltar and Spain will be removed. Instead, entry and exit checks will take place at Gibraltar’s airport and port, to be conducted jointly by UK and Spanish border officials. This arrangement mirrors the model already in place at Eurostar terminals in London and Paris, where dual border checks are carried out prior to travel.
The UK government stated that the deal “resolves the last major unresolved issue from Brexit” and confirmed that it would not affect British sovereignty over Gibraltar nor the operational control of its military installations, including the Royal Air Force base located within the territory. Officials emphasised that full operational autonomy of UK military facilities is guaranteed under the agreement.
Gibraltar, which has been under British control since 1713 following the Treaty of Utrecht, has long been a point of contention in UK–Spain relations. Although claimed by Spain, the territory remains staunchly British; in the 2016 Brexit referendum, 96% of Gibraltar’s population voted to remain in the European Union. The small territory, home to around 34,000 people, relies heavily on cross-border trade and labour mobility with Spain, with roughly half its population crossing the border daily.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares hailed the agreement as “historic”, describing it as “a new beginning” in bilateral relations with the UK. He stated that Spain would “guarantee free movement of people and goods” and confirmed that Gibraltar would now be associated with the Schengen Area. However, he stressed that Spain’s longstanding claim to the territory remains unchanged.
The text of the agreement includes provisions on visas and travel permits, designed to avoid disruption under new EU entry-exit requirements. Without such a framework, the UK government warned, all cross-border movements would have been subject to routine passport checks, causing major delays and economic disruption.
The implementation of the agreement will require ratification by the parliaments of both Spain and the United Kingdom. If approved, the deal would put an end to nearly five years of uncertainty for residents, businesses, and cross-border workers following Brexit.
Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo welcomed the agreement, calling it “a moment of real progress”. He said the accord “will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier.”
The agreement also forms part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s broader strategy to reset relations with the European Union after years of strained post-Brexit diplomacy. While remaining outside the EU, the UK government has sought to resolve outstanding technical issues, improve trade conditions, and rebuild trust with European partners.
Talks over Gibraltar had previously been impeded by disagreement over the presence of Spanish officials at Gibraltar’s airport, a sensitive site due to its joint civilian and military use. The new arrangement, which allows for joint UK–Spanish control at entry points, represents a compromise acceptable to all parties, preserving UK authority while addressing EU concerns about protecting the integrity of the Schengen zone and the single market.
The European Commission stated that the agreement represents a “mutual commitment to cooperation, stability, and shared prosperity”. If ratified, it will establish a precedent for managing the unique challenges posed by post-Brexit border regions.
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