Spain and UK close 'historic deal' on Gibraltar post-Brexit

Spanish and UK authorities closed a "historic deal" on Gibraltar post-Brexit negotiations on Wednesday.

The Spanish foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, announced the deal on social media and said that the agreement on the relationship between the UK colony and the EU "is now a reality."

Albares was accompanied by his UK counterpart David Lammy, the European Commissioner vice-president Maros Sefcovic, and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo.

The deal was signed in Brussels and it is considered a "truly historic milestone" for Commissioner Maroš Šefcovic. The deal will benefit "everyone and reinforces a new chapter in the relationship between the EU and the UK," the text shared on social media added.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the conclusion of the talks as "it safeguards the integrity of Schengen and the Single Market, while ensuring stability, legal certainty, and prosperity for the region."

"The future Agreement is without prejudice to the respective legal positions of Spain and the United Kingdom with regard to sovereignty and jurisdiction," a joint statement reads.

Pysical barriers

The deal, which will benefit around 15,000 people daily, is planned to "secure the future prosperity of the whole region" and to do so, authorities have decided to remove all physical barriers, checks, and controls on persons and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar.

However, the Schengen area will be preserved despite the barriers being removed.

A statement says these movements will "bring confidence and legal certainty to the lives and well-being of the people of the whole region."

After the deal, the different countries have agreed to establish dual Gibraltar and Schengen border checks at the airport and the port. These will be conducted "in full cooperation" between the EU and the UK or Gibraltar's authorities.

Authorities announced that Spain will conduct Schengen checks, while the full Gibraltar checks will continue to be conducted as they are today.

Checks on goods will be removed and an indirect taxation will be applied in Gibraltar, including on tobacco.