A landmark Gibraltar deal was struck on June 11, 2025, as the United Kingdom, Spain, and Gibraltar reached a consensus or deal on the long-festering matter of Gibraltar’s post-Brexit position. Following four years of intricate negotiations, the accord addresses border controls, customs operations, airport security, and cross-border cooperation—crucial factors that had strained EU‑UK relations since the territory exited the EU in 2020.
Under the new framework, Gibraltar will effectively become part of the Schengen area regarding movement of goods and individuals. The historic “Verja”—the physical fence separating Gibraltar from Spain—will be dismantled, and routine checks on the land border abolished, enabling seamless day-to-day movement. Some 15,000 people cross that border daily for work, and the removal of these delays is expected to significantly ease their commute.
Critical to the accord is the installation of dual-border controls at Gibraltar Airport and port, akin to the Eurostar’s juxtaposed model. Both British/Gibraltar immigration staff and Spanish (Schengen) officials will carry out passport checks—allowing Spain to manage Schengen requirements while preserving Gibraltar’s internal immigration autonomy. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described this arrangement as a breakthrough that maintains British sovereignty while addressing practical realities.
Despite the integration with Schengen at border points, Gibraltar remains unquestionably under UK sovereignty. British control over defense and foreign affairs, including the operations of the RAF base and related military installations, will remain intact . However, the UK will accept Spanish passport checks for non-resident British visitors transiting into Gibraltar—both by air and land—as part of Europe’s unified border management rules.
In exchange for these concessions, Gibraltar will align with EU norms on taxation and customs. Controls on goods will be abolished, and efforts will begin toward establishing a customs union to prevent smuggling and economic imbalances. Additional fiscal cooperation will cover indirect taxes—such as tobacco regulation—designed to avoid market distortions.
Parallel measures include enhanced collaboration between British, Spanish, and EU authorities on policing, judicial processes, environmental protection, and labor rights. Formal mechanisms will also be set up to coordinate social security, workforce movement, and environmental standards, ensuring that Gibraltar’s alignment with the EU does not compromise regulatory coherence .
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo hailed the agreement as momentous. Starmer noted that this resolves one of the final Brexit-era disputes, while Sánchez described it as an unprecedented step toward peace and stability on the peninsula. Chief Minister Picardo emphasized the legal clarity it brings to border workers and businesses, underscoring Gibraltar’s right to maintain its own sovereign status.
The agreement still awaits formal ratification by the UK and Spanish parliaments, alongside endorsement from the European Parliament. Once approved, it will usher Gibraltar into a new era—integrated with Schengen for practical entry, but firmly under British jurisdiction—offering a post-Brexit model of pragmatic collaboration.
