Gibraltar Removes Last Border with Spain

At midnight, the ‘Verja’ border crossing between Gibraltar and Spain ceased to exist, enacting a provisional treaty signed today in Brussels by the European Union and the United Kingdom. The agreement resolves practical issues stemming from Brexit, eliminating the land border established in 1909 and reinforced by Franco’s regime in 1969. This development follows a 2016 referendum where nearly 96% of Gibraltarians opposed Brexit.

The treaty requires ratification by the European Parliament, but is already having immediate effects. Controls will shift to the port and airport, with passengers undergoing checks by both Gibraltarian and Spanish authorities, mirroring existing procedures for rail travel between London and continental Europe. Pedestrians and vehicles will be able to cross the land border freely.

While the agreement doesn’t alter the long-standing sovereignty dispute over Gibraltar, it aims to foster cooperation and ensure legal certainty for the roughly 15,000 people who cross the border daily. Issues of taxation, wages, and housing affordability, particularly in the Spanish town of La Linea de la Concepción, remain to be addressed.