politics
EU and Britain sign treaty ending Gibraltar border checks
The EU and Britain signed a treaty on Tuesday that ends routine border checks between Gibraltar and Spain. The agreement allows residents to cross using residence or government ID cards instead of passports.
Jul 14, 9:24 AM·1m read1 source
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The EU and Britain signed a treaty on Tuesday that ends routine border checks between Gibraltar and Spain. The agreement allows Gibraltar residents to cross into Spain using residence cards while Spanish citizens can use government ID cards. The treaty was signed in Brussels by European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, British Minister of State for Europe Stephen Doughty, Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno and Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo.
Officials said the deal follows an agreement reached last year to reduce uncertainty over the British overseas territory.
Border procedures Travelers arriving at Gibraltar airport will show passports to both Gibraltar and Spanish border officers. Britain has proposed a system similar to French police checks at the London St Pancras railway station for the Eurostar service.
Historical background Britain acquired Gibraltar in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht that ended the War of Spanish Succession. The territory sits at the southern tip of Spain and has been a point of contention between the two countries.
