Brittish citizens traveling to Gibraltar will soon be required to present passports to Spanish border guards under a new Labour Brexit agreement, reports BritPanorama.
The latest treaty confirms that Gibraltar will remain under British sovereignty and will not join the Schengen zone, but Spanish officers will now have the authority to conduct border checks. These officers will also be empowered to arrest individuals, search travelers, and interview them if deemed necessary due to security concerns.
This new system is designed to facilitate the removal of the 1.2-kilometre fence along the Gibraltar-Spain border, a significant step in easing tensions in the area.
Labour has likened the new controls at Gibraltar to procedures in place at other international crossings, such as the Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras, where both British and French border authorities conduct checks. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has expressed concerns that measures should ensure Spanish police do not overreach their operational mandates.
Shadow Foreign Minister Wendy Morton emphasized that sovereignty encompasses practical arrangements, stating, “There are serious questions about the operation of the border and dual checks, the role of Spanish authorities at the airport, customs and taxation arrangements.”
The evolving dynamics surrounding Gibraltar’s border governance will likely continue to draw attention, given its historical context and strategic significance in UK-Europe relations.
