Spain and Gibraltar are celebrating the removal of border checkpoints and the dismantling of the chain-link fence separating the two nations. A treaty signed in Brussels on Tuesday officially eliminates border controls on the land frontier with the British overseas territory, coming into effect at midnight.
The post-Brexit deal allows for greater freedom of movement for people and goods. Gibraltar residents may now cross into Spain using residence cards, while Spanish citizens can use government ID cards. This agreement concludes more than four years of negotiations between the UK, Spain, Gibraltar, and the EU following Britain's departure from the bloc.
Located at the southernmost tip of the Iberian peninsula, the self-governing British territory of Gibraltar has a population of about 40,000 people. It relies on approximately 15,500 Spanish workers who cross the border every day. The removal of the frontier fence, described as the last in western Europe, eases travel for these thousands of daily commuters, residents, and tourists.
This agreement officially brings to an end the final chapter of the UK's exit process from the EU. The deal is set to boost cooperation and freedoms in the disputed region.