Spain has dismantled its border posts with Gibraltar for the first time in more than 300 years — The Telegraph
Spanish workers dismantled checkpoints on the border between Spain and Gibraltar as part of a new historic agreement reached following Brexit.
This move effectively eliminates the land border between the British overseas territory and the European mainland.
This historic event will put an end to border controls that have lasted for more than three centuries.
Equipment operators have completely dismantled the police support buildings on the Spanish side of the border crossing.
This work is being carried out in preparation for the introduction of a barrier-free land border without any checks, scheduled for July 15.
The new agreement is designed to ensure completely free daily movement for approximately 15,000 workers.
According to the text of the agreement, the control lines are being moved directly to Gibraltar Airport, as well as to the local seaport.
“Equipment operators dismantled auxiliary police buildings on the Spanish side of the border crossing as part of preparations for the introduction on July 15 of a barrier-free land border without checks. The new Brexit agreement abolishes the land border between the British Overseas Territory and Spain, ensuring the free movement of about 15,000 workers daily, and relocates it to Gibraltar Airport,” the article explains.
Now, all British citizens arriving at the airport or by sea are required to undergo a two-step document verification process.
Citizens must first present their passports to Gibraltar officials and then to Spanish border guards.
It is the Spanish officials who will make the final decision on whether to allow a person to enter this British territory.
At the same time, the special booths used by the Royal Gibraltar Police for inspections will be removed.
This change effectively transforms the famous “Rock” into a full-fledged part of the EU’s borderless Schengen Area.
According to Spanish media reports, the official signing of this document could take place as early as July 13 in Brussels.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper and EU Commissioner Maroš Šefrovič are named as the likely signatories of this landmark document. Analysts emphasize the extraordinary importance of this event for both sides.
“This treaty is one of the most important agreements concerning British overseas territories since the 1984 agreement with China on the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong,” the publication added.
This was reported by The Telegraph.
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