Post #4030094

2026-07-23 07:34 UTC

Last year Gibraltar, the EU, the UK and Spain signed an agreement that maintained Gibraltarian sovereignty over the country, but made them de facto members of the Schengen area. As a result, for the first time in 100 years the fence on the border between Gibraltar and Spain was to be taken down. It was a 9 year negotiation, trying to undo centuries of disagreement. A year on, and the last piece of fence was taken down last week. There was celebration and jubilation as the last part of the treaty was signed, and implementation has officially been completed, or at least announced as such. (1/3)

Replies (1)

@moof@cupoftea.social 2026-07-23 07:34

The importance of this treaty, and the permanence that removal of the border fence symbolises, cannot be overstated. For the locals it means an end to unpredictable, potentially hours-long border queues that Spain would whimsically enforce to a more or less exhaustive extent for political theatre purposes. It also means a reduction in crime related to cross-border contraband, because, well, the physical border isn’t there any more. One of the more interesting aspects of this agreement has to do with going through Joshua Hassan Gibraltar International Airport. When the new terminal was originally built in the late 2000s there had been a provision made in the plans for an exit directly into Spain. It was never completed, due to a change of Spanish government. (2/3)

Open ##4030095