Spain signs Gibraltar treaty to end final Brexit chapter
Spain has ratified a new EU-UK treaty on Gibraltar that dismantles the last physical border fence in continental Europe, restoring the free movement of people and goods crucial to the regional economy.
Spain signed a long-awaited agreement in Brussels on Tuesday to regulate Gibraltar’s status following Brexit, formally closing the final chapter of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. The treaty was signed by European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic and UK Minister of State for Europe Stephen Doughty. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo also participated in the ceremony.
The most immediate physical change will take place on Wednesday, when crews begin demolishing the last stretch of the border fence known as the Verja. Albares described the barrier as "the last frontier in continental Europe." Its removal ends the hard border that has constrained daily life and disrupted cross-border commerce since Britain left the bloc six years ago.
For the regional economy, the agreement establishes a new framework guaranteeing freedom of movement for both people and goods. This eliminates the friction that has hindered the fluid operation of local businesses and supply chains since 2020. Albares noted the treaty will prevent the "distortions of the past" in areas such as taxation and the environment, aiming to establish a level playing field and providing what he termed "new connectivity for the Campo de Gibraltar."
Despite this deep economic integration, Madrid maintained its strict political red lines regarding territorial control. Albares told reporters that "Article 2 makes it very clear that Spain is not changing a single comma of its sovereignty claim, that we continue to assert sovereignty and that our position remains exactly the same." He argued that the agreement safeguards Spain’s position while allowing progress in day-to-day coexistence.
The minister framed the pragmatic arrangement as a direct benefit for the roughly 300,000 Andalusians living in the surrounding region. Pushing back against domestic criticism from the opposition Popular Party and Vox, Albares stated that "even if they do not realise it, they too have won." He insisted that the treaty strengthens cooperation and improves economic opportunities on both sides of the former fence.
The deal attempts to permanently separate regional economic interests from centuries of political dispute. "We are leaving behind three centuries marked by mistrust and confrontation," Albares said. He added that the territory and its Spanish neighbours are now "moving forward together towards a future full of opportunities."
