Post #4030095

2026-07-23 07:34 UTC

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)

Replies (1)

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

With the new Schengen-compliant Gibraltar, part of Schenghen without being fully there, so some of those plans have been dusted off. There is a new, temporary, structure on the Spanish side of the border that is attached to the building, pending a more laborious construction project in the years to come. This allows Spanish authorities to perform Schenghen area immigration and customs checks without being on Gibraltarian territory. Gibraltar’s head of Government, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, has just published a fascinating video explaining the new procedures at Gibraltar airport. It covered the steps people will go through, and how some of it is in Spain and some in Gibraltar. If you thought the Eurostar border checks were weird, then this is a somewhat more geopolitically complicated version of that. Have a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX548Ql_s08&feature=youtu.be (3/3)

Open ##4030097