The UK and Gibraltar are close to finalising a historic agreement with the European Union and Spain that would introduce Eurostar-style border checks at Gibraltar Airport, paving the way for easier cross-border travel and closer EU ties.
The agreement—centred on a shared border control system—would allow passengers arriving at Gibraltar Airport to go through both British and Spanish passport checks, similar to the system in place for Eurostar travellers at London’s St Pancras. This new model aims to secure Gibraltar’s entry into the EU’s Schengen area, despite the UK’s post-Brexit status.
Talks are being held today in Brussels, where UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo are meeting with EU Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares to resolve remaining obstacles.
The proposal could restore freedom of movement for Gibraltar residents within the EU and ensure the continued ease of access for an estimated 15,000 daily Spanish cross-border workers. Currently, many residents and workers use residency or ID cards to avoid passport stamping, but the new deal would formalise and streamline that process.
Speaking on social media, Picardo said the goal was to create a “lasting, stable relationship between Gibraltar and the EU/Spain that protects our people and boosts prosperity.”
However, the agreement faces likely criticism from UK Conservatives and Reform UK, as it would mean UK nationals entering Gibraltar must show their passports to Spanish border guards, sparking concerns over sovereignty and post-Brexit control.
A UK government official stressed that “hard negotiations” remain, stating: “We’re not in Brussels to rubber-stamp a deal.” Similarly, Spanish officials expressed a desire to “make as much progress as possible.”
Efforts to strike a similar deal under the Conservative government last year fell through at the final stages. Now, with Labour’s Keir Starmer seeking a closer relationship with Brussels, Gibraltar’s border deal may serve as a bellwether for wider UK-EU cooperation.
