Spain and Gibraltar are celebrating the removal of the last frontier fence in western Europe after a post-Brexit deal ending border checks came into effect at midnight.
Key facts
- A post-Brexit treaty eliminating border controls on the land frontier came into effect at midnight.
- The agreement was signed in Brussels on Tuesday.
- It concludes more than four years of negotiations between the UK, Spain, Gibraltar and the EU.
- The deal ends checks for residents, tourists and thousands of Spanish workers who cross daily.
- A symbolic midnight ceremony was followed by large crowds crossing without border checks, according to the BBC.
Spain and Gibraltar are marking the fall of the last frontier fence in western Europe after the signing of a post-Brexit deal that ends border checks for residents, tourists and the thousands of Spanish workers who cross into the British overseas territory every day, according to the Guardian.
The agreement was signed in Brussels on Tuesday and came into effect at midnight. It marks the conclusion of more than four years of negotiations between the UK, Spain, Gibraltar and the EU following Britain’s departure from the bloc.
The BBC reported that a symbolic midnight ceremony was followed by large crowds crossing between Gibraltar and Spain without border checks.
The deal addresses one of the outstanding issues left over from Brexit, which had raised questions over how movement across the land frontier would be managed after the UK left the EU.
For the many Spanish workers who commute into Gibraltar daily, the removal of border controls is set to ease crossings that were previously subject to checks. The change also affects residents and tourists moving between the two territories.
Why it matters
The Gibraltar-Spain frontier was one of the last remaining border controls of its kind in western Europe and a key unresolved issue from Brexit. Its removal directly affects thousands of daily commuters, residents and tourists, and signals a resolution to years of negotiations between the UK, Spain, Gibraltar and the EU.
Frequently asked questions
When did the deal come into effect?
The treaty came into effect at midnight, after being signed in Brussels on Tuesday, according to the Guardian.
Who does the removal of border checks affect?
It ends border checks for residents, tourists and the thousands of Spanish workers who cross into Gibraltar every day, according to the Guardian.
How long did negotiations take?
The agreement marks the conclusion of more than four years of negotiations between the UK, Spain, Gibraltar and the EU following Brexit.