The European Union and the United Kingdom have signed the EU-UK Agreement in respect of Gibraltar, removing all physical barriers, checks and controls on people and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar.
The agreement is the result of more than four years of negotiations and completes the legal framework of the relations between the EU and the United Kingdom following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU.
Gibraltar is not included in the scope of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2020 and in force since 2021.
“Today marks a truly historic moment”, said Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefcovic: “I am proud to sign this Agreement with the United Kingdom on Gibraltar. It has taken four years of patient, complex negotiation, but the outcome speaks for itself: shared prosperity, closer cooperation, and no more barrier for some 15,000 people who cross between Spain and Gibraltar every single day. It is a very special feeling to see a fence come down.”
The agreement’s main objective is to secure the future prosperity of the whole region.
In the area of people, the parties agreed to establish dual Gibraltar and Schengen border checks at Gibraltar port and airport – to be carried out in full cooperation between the EU and UK/Gibraltar authorities, removing all checks at the crossing point between Gibraltar and La Linea for the many thousands of people who travel across daily in both directions. For the EU, full Schengen checks will be carried out by Spain. For the UK, full Gibraltar checks will continue to be carried out as they are today. They also agreed arrangements for visas and permits and close cooperation between the police and law enforcement authorities.
In the area of goods, the parties agreed on the principles underpinning the future customs union between the EU and Gibraltar, providing for strong cooperation between the respective customs authorities and removing checks on goods. There is also agreement on the principles of indirect taxation to be applied in Gibraltar, including on tobacco – that will avoid distortions and contribute to the prosperity of the whole region.
The agreement will enter into provisional application on 15 July 2026.
Following the adoption of the proposal for the signing and provisional application of the EU-UK Agreement by the Council on 1 July, the Agreement was submitted to the European Parliament for its consent, in accordance with the EU treaties.
Once the Parliament’s consent is obtained, the Council can proceed with the adoption of its decision on conclusion of the Agreement.
