“There is no longer a barrier. Schengen applies to Gibraltar (in its relations) with Spain, which makes it possible to remove the controls between Gibraltar and Spain, this makes it possible to remove the barrier, ”said Arancha González Laya at a press conference to Madrid. “We have reached an agreement in principle with the Kingdom -United which will serve as the basis for a future treaty between
the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar ”, she continued.
The agreement “will allow us to remove barriers and ” move towards an area of shared prosperity. Firmness in principles, progress for the citizens ”, tweeted shortly after the announcement the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.
Iniciamos una nueva etapa. Alcanzamos un principio de acuerdo con Reino Unido sobre Gibraltar que nos permitirá eliminar barreras y avanzar hacia una zona de prosperidad compartida. Firmza en los principios, progreso para la ciudadanía.
Gracias a los negociadores de Exteriores. pic.twitter.com/8LQFfjLz3U
– Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) December 28, 2020
Near 15. 000 people cross the border every day
Since the post-Brexit agreement concluded on 26 December by London and Brussels, which did not apply in the case of Gibraltar, Spain and the United Kingdom were engaged in a real race against the m to avoid the return to Gibraltar of a border qualified as “hard”, that is to say with passport controls for people and customs controls on goods at the border with the enclave.
Some 15. people – in their great majority Spaniards – residing in Spain cross every day the border to go to work in the British enclave. In order to limit the impact of failed negotiations and the return of border controls, Gibraltar’s local government had established a register to allow these thousands of cross-border workers to continue to come to the Rock every day without complications.
But the return of the passports would have affected tourism, which represents an important source of income for this very prosperous enclave whose economy is based on services. The Gibraltar authorities also feared logistical problems for imports, with all food products consumed in the enclave being imported.