The United Kingdom and the European Union have formally signed a new treaty governing the future of Gibraltar, aiming to alleviate border crossing complexities and resolve long-standing uncertainty regarding its relationship with Spain. The agreement is designed to eliminate extensive delays and burdensome checks for approximately 15,000 people who traverse the border daily, a situation that has persisted for years since Britain’s departure from the EU.
The Foreign Office confirmed that the deal also ensures "safeguarding British sovereignty" and protects vital military operations on the strategically important headland. Gibraltar, which was ceded to the UK by Spain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, has consistently expressed a strong desire to remain a British overseas territory, with a 2002 referendum on shared sovereignty with Spain seeing 99 per cent of Gibraltarians reject the proposal. The territory also hosts an RAF airfield and a naval facility.
The signing ceremony in Brussels was attended by Stephen Doughty, Minister for the Overseas Territories, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, and Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. Mr Doughty stated, “Our support for Gibraltar remains as solid as the Rock. This agreement opens a new chapter with the EU and Spain, supporting jobs, growth and prosperity on both sides of the border.” Mr Sefcovic hailed it as a “truly historic moment,” resulting from four years of “patient, complex negotiation.”
While the treaty aims to ease the flow of traffic for many, British visitors arriving at Gibraltar airport will face new procedures. They will undergo two sets of checks: an existing examination by Gibraltar’s Borders & Coastguard Agency, followed by a tougher Spanish frontier check. Furthermore, UK travellers will be required to undergo full Entry-Exit System (EES) registration. This means that on their first crossing of a Schengen area frontier, they must register both fingerprints and facial biometrics, with subsequent crossings typically requiring only facial recognition. The EES process must also be repeated upon departure.
The territory was notably excluded from the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement following Brexit, a decision overwhelmingly opposed by Gibraltarians. Negotiations over border regulations have continued for years since Britain’s departure from the trade bloc, culminating in this new accord which comes into provisional effect on Wednesday, 16 July 2026. This development marks a significant step in stabilising the post-Brexit relationship between the UK, Gibraltar, and the EU, particularly Spain.