The UK and Gibraltar have reached a political agreement with the European Union to remove a key area of friction between the EU and the UK.
People and goods crossing the Gibraltar-Spain border will avoid having to undergo “onerous checks”, the UK government said, as the agreement will establish a “fluid border” between Spain and Gibraltar.
Arrivals into Gibraltar airport will undergo dual border control checks by Gibraltar and Spanish officials - in a similar model to French police operating in London’s St Pancras station - and the UK will retain full operational autonomy of the UK's military facilities in Gibraltar.
Tom Brufatto, Director of Policy and Research at Best for Britain, said:
“In much the same way that we have French border guards in St Pancras station, it seems that this pragmatic agreement will allow Spanish officials to operate in Gibraltar airport, providing much needed certainty for the thousands who cross the border every day.
“With so much still to advance following last month’s summit, we can be optimistic that this agreement removes an obstacle to greater EU-UK cooperation in other areas which can bring prices down for UK consumers and restore opportunities back to British citizens.”