Spain warned Britain on Friday that it might face a permanent hard border with Gibraltar after implementing unexpected checks at the Rock’s border, causing significant delays.
Madrid has intensified pressure on Britain concerning Gibraltar following Sir Keir Starmer’s recent concession of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. Despite this, the Prime Minister maintains that Gibraltar, which was ceded to Britain in 1715 after being captured by the French in 1704, will remain under British control.
According to Fabian Picardo, the chief minister, Gibraltar had “no choice but to reciprocate” with similar controls. He labelled the Spanish insistence on passport stamping “hugely regrettable.”
Every day, around 15,000 Spanish workers commute across the border to Gibraltar, while numerous Gibraltarians own second homes in Spain or frequently visit the neighbouring region of La Linea for shopping.
Both parties have overlooked post-Brexit travel restrictions, which limit visa-free stays to 90 days within any 180-day period and mandate passport stamping.
These temporary arrangements have prevented Gibraltar residents and Spaniards from exhausting their 90-day limit, providing a buffer for ongoing discussions about a post-Brexit Common Travel Area between Spain and Gibraltar.
By 7:30 AM, Gibraltar’s government reported significant delays at the border caused by Spanish officials who insisted on stamping the passports of those with Gibraltar residency cards.
Gibraltar initiated reciprocal checks, but by 11 AM, both sides had ceased the passport stamping.
A Gibraltarian woman recounted her experience to the Gibraltar Chronicle, describing how she was halted while attempting to shop in La Linea. “I asked for my passport back and returned to Gibraltar,” she said, after being informed by a guard that he was under orders to stamp passports.
The Brexit agreement for Gibraltar is designed to create a seamless land crossing between the two areas by relocating the border to Gibraltar’s airport and integrating the British Overseas Territory into the EU’s Schengen Zone.
However, negotiations have been hindered by disputes over sovereignty and the issue of Spanish border guards operating on Gibraltar soil to manage entry into Schengen.
On Friday, Madrid announced it would comply with the EU’s new electronic border regulations, which mandate passport checks and make a permanent hard border inevitable unless an agreement is reached.
“Spain is prepared for the Entry-Exit System to be implemented on the date determined by the European Commission, which is in charge of this decision. The Spanish government and the Interior Ministry will adhere to this,” a spokesman for the interior minister told The Telegraph.
Spain, which claims sovereignty over Gibraltar, has a history of tightening border controls as a means of applying pressure and gaining political advantage.
On Wednesday, a British Airways flight from Gibraltar to London was canceled after Spanish border guards did not adhere to the usual protocols that allow passengers to be transferred to Malaga airport when flights from Gibraltar are diverted.
The flight was originally rerouted due to poor weather conditions in Gibraltar. However, the return journey was canceled because Spanish officers did not permit non-EU passengers in Gibraltar to travel to Malaga.
Earlier in the week, Spain’s foreign minister had urged the UK to agree to their “generous” Brexit terms before the new EU electronic border rules were set to take effect on November 10, though Brussels later postponed this deadline.
Former armed forces minister and Tory MP Mark Francois commented, “It’s absolutely no surprise that following Labour’s complete capitulation over the Chagos Islands, Spain is now trying to pressure Gibraltar. This inept government doesn’t realize that appeasement seldom works, and we are now seeing the repercussions. It’s hopeless!”
The government of Gibraltar stated, “This action by Spain occurred without any prior notice.”
“Upon further investigation, it was clear that the decision to stop the interim measures had neither been made nor communicated by the Spanish ministers of interior or foreign affairs. It seems that the directive was issued in writing by an Inspector of the Spanish Policia Nacional in La Linea, who did not have the authority from his superiors to issue such an order.”
Spanish media have accused Gibraltar of causing the recent delays, an allegation that Mr. Picardo has dismissed as the “usual untruth.”
José Ignacio Landaluce, the mayor of Algeciras and a senator for Spain’s conservative People’s Party, cautioned Gibraltar against using Spanish cross-border workers as bargaining chips in what he described as a display of power amid ongoing negotiations.
Fabian Picardo, the chief minister, stated, “Interim arrangements were altered by Spanish police without prior notification, impacting both Spanish and Gibraltarian workers as well as the general public. The regional Spanish media’s accusations against Gibraltar represent the typical falsehood. A UK/EU Treaty would resolve these issues, while its absence would only worsen them.”
He further noted, “Our proposed compromises are balanced, ensuring the security of Schengen and the integrity of the Single Market while remaining neutral on sovereignty issues.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson emphasized, “We are dedicated to securing a UK-EU treaty that preserves sovereignty, UK military independence, and promotes future prosperity for Gibraltar and the surrounding area. All parties recognize the urgency of finalizing this agreement.”
“The enforcement of EU law in this context is Spain’s responsibility. Negotiations for a UK-EU treaty regarding Gibraltar continue,” stated a spokesperson from the European Commission.
