Gibraltar and the EU reach post-Brexit free movement deal

The United Kingdom and the European Union have finalized a post-Brexit agreement to ensure free movement between Gibraltar and Spain, addressing a longstanding unresolved issue since Brexit. The deal, which still requires ratification, aims to eliminate all physical barriers, checks, and controls on the movement of people and goods between the two regions, according to a joint statement by Brussels and London.

Approximately 15,000 people mostly Spaniards cross into Gibraltar daily to work in this British territory of around 34,000 residents. The European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic emphasized that the agreement will bring legal certainty and peace of mind to both individuals and businesses in the region.

Following the UK’s exit from the EU in 2020, Gibraltar's status remained unclear. A temporary arrangement between Madrid and London was reached at the end of 2020 to maintain border fluidity, but a permanent solution had been elusive.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed the new deal as a “practical solution after years of uncertainty.” Under the agreement, the land border will remain open without identity checks. However, at Gibraltar’s airport, joint controls by Gibraltarian and Spanish officials will be implemented to uphold Schengen rules, resembling the French police presence at London's St Pancras station.

Negotiations had stalled under the previous UK Conservative government but gained momentum following the Labour Party's rise to power. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pushed for a “reset” in UK-EU relations and praised the Gibraltar agreement as “historic” in his discussion with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo expressed his satisfaction, noting that the deal will safeguard the future of British Gibraltarians. He called for an end to past disputes.

Though Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht, it continues to claim sovereignty over the territory. Despite this, Sánchez described the agreement as a “great day,” highlighting that it serves the interests of citizens and bilateral relations, while maintaining Spain’s historical claims over the isthmus and the eventual return of Gibraltar.