Spain and the British territory of Gibraltar are marking the beginning of a new chapter from Wednesday, with the dismantling of border controls that had long been a source of tension and frustration for daily commuters.
A border fence has been fully removed after Britain and the European Union formally inked a historic treaty easing border checks on Tuesday after years of post-Brexit wrangling.
Gibraltar — a tiny self-governing British territory on Spain’s southern coast — has a contested status. Spain has maintained a sovereignty claim over the territory known as “The Rock” since it was ceded to Britain in 1713.
‘Europe is back’
With a population of approximately 40,000 people, Gibraltar relies on some 15,500 cross-border workers from Spain who travel in and out every day.
The land border witnessed long queues during rush hours as documents were scrutinized, especially during political flareups between Britain and Spain.
But with the elimination of border checks, Gibraltar residents can cross over to Spain using residence cards without having to get their passports stamped and Spanish citizens can cross using a government identity card.
Soon after midnight on Wednesday, crowds crossed freely between Spain’s La Linea de Concepcion and Gibraltar in both directions.
“Europe is back,” Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo declared as hundreds of people gathered for the official opening, waving Spanish flags.
Many gathered at the event were also spotted wearing Spanish soccer jerseys after Spain’s win against France in the World Cup semifinal earlier in the evening, adding to the exuberance.
“What you feel here is the brotherhood between the two people,” Picardo told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.
Spain and Gibraltar usher in ‘new era’
The Tuesday signing of the deal took place in Brussels and saw Picardo being joined by European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, British Minister of State for Europe Stephen Doughty, and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.
The agreement in effect brings the territory into the EU’s Schengen free travel area. People arriving at Gibraltar airport will show their passports to both Gibraltar and Spanish border officers.
Albares described the deal as opening “a new era” that will create “enormous opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to visit the border zone on Wednesday.
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Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
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