Spain and the British territory of Gibraltar are starting a new chapter on Wednesday, abolishing border controls that have long been a source of stress and frustration for daily commuters.
The border fence has been completely removed after Britain and the EU on Tuesday formally signed a landmark treaty easing border checks following years of post-Brexit wrangling.
Gibraltar – a small self-governing British territory off the southern coast of Spain – has a disputed status. Spain has maintained a claim to sovereignty over the area known as “the Rock” since it was ceded to Britain in 1713.
‘Europe is back’
With a population of about 40,000 people, Gibraltar is dependent on about 15,500 cross-border workers from Spain who travel in and out every day.
Long queues were seen at the land border during rush hours during document checks, especially during political clashes between Britain and Spain.
But with the abolition of border checks, Gibraltar residents can enter Spain using a residence card without having their passports stamped and Spanish citizens can cross using a government identity card.
Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, crowds crossed in both directions between Spain’s La Linea de Concepcion and Gibraltar.
“Europe is back,” declared Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, as hundreds gathered for the official opening and waved Spanish flags.
In the evening, following Spain’s victory against France in the World Cup semi-final, many people gathered at the event were seen wearing Spanish football jerseys, adding to the excitement.
“What you feel here is brotherhood between two peoples,” Picardo told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.
Spain and Gibraltar usher in a ‘new era’
The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Brussels and was attended by Picardo along with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, British Secretary of State for Europe Stephen Doughty and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alberes.
In effect the agreement brings the region into the EU’s Schengen free travel area. People arriving at Gibraltar Airport will show their passport to both Gibraltar and Spanish border officials.
Alberes described the deal as the beginning of “a new era” that would create “enormous opportunities”.
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the border area on Wednesday.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko
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