Albares, at the signing of the Gibraltar agreement: “a historic agreement that ushers in a new era three centuries later”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, attended the signing of the historic agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar in Brussels this Tuesday. The signing marks the beginning of a new era of coexistence, stability and shared prosperity for the Campo de Gibraltar, Andalusia, Spain and Europe as a whole. The agreement also brings the final outstanding chapter of Brexit to a close and enables Spain to further deepen its bilateral relations with a key European partner and NATO ally, the United Kingdom.

At the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission, Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, accompanied by Minister Albares on behalf of the European Union, and the Minister of State for Europe and North America, Stephen Doughty, accompanied by the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, on behalf of the United Kingdom, formalised the agreement with a solemn signing ceremony.

“We have just drawn a line under a long period of discord and opened the door to a new era of coexistence between two communities that used to live with their backs turned on one another and are now joining hands, three centuries later. This is a historic agreement, an agreement for the future, which represents a huge leap forward in terms of stability and prosperity in the lives of 300,000 Andalusians in the Campo de Gibraltar,” the Spanish minister stated after the signing ceremony.

The agreement, which will come into force tomorrow at 00:00, provides for the removal of the fence, thereby eliminating the last wall on the European mainland. It establishes the free movement of people between the Campo de Gibraltar and Gibraltar, which will particularly benefit the nearly 15,000 cross-border workers who commute daily. 

There will be no passport controls between the two territories, and Spain will take over Schengen border controls at Gibraltar’s airport and port. Furthermore, the Spanish authorities will have the final say on the issue and renewal of residence permits.

The agreement provides solutions to enable all the inhabitants of a region – hitherto separated by a fence – to live together harmoniously. It eliminates inequalities and distortions, guarantees the free movement of people and goods, safeguards the future of workers and their rights – including unemployment benefits and pensions – and positions the Campo de Gibraltar as a region of progress, opportunity, connectivity and a bright future, something widely sought after by the entire region.

The agreement, Albares asserts, “is a great success, a collective success that marks a new era in the Campo de Gibraltar and opens the area up to a future of prosperity; it closes the final outstanding chapter of Brexit and allows us to further deepen our bilateral relations with a European partner and NATO ally such as the United Kingdom”.

The minister thanked everyone who had contributed to the success of the negotiations leading up to this signing: the mayors of the Campo de Gibraltar, socio-economic stakeholders, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the other institutions, and, most especially, Juan Franco, mayor of La Línea, the municipality that would have suffered the most had an agreement not been reached.

Following the signing, the minister presented Commissioner Maros Sefcovic with the Order of Civil Merit, one of the highest honours awarded by our country in recognition of the exceptional services rendered by individuals — whether Spanish or foreign — who have made a significant contribution to the good of Spain. 

With this honour, Albares sought to recognise Sefcovic’s “crucial leadership” in these negotiations, as well as his diplomatic skill and his ability to build bridges, promote European cooperation and strengthen Europe’s position in the world. 

In the minister’s words, “his dedication and commitment have also helped to complete the final missing piece of the Brexit jigsaw: the Agreement on Gibraltar. From the time a political agreement was reached just over a year ago, on 11 June 2025, until today’s signing of the final legal agreement, the work of the Commission teams under your leadership has been extraordinary”.

At the same ceremony, Albares presented awards to other figures who had also participated in the negotiations for the agreement, including the Spaniard Clara Martínez Alberola, senior adviser to Commissioner Sefcovic.

During his stay in Brussels, Albares also met with the High Representative of the European Union, Kaja Kallas, with whom he reviewed the main issues on the international and EU agenda.

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He also took part in a discussion with Jeromin Zetterlmeyer, director of the Belgian think tank Bruegel. Under the title End of the old order or a new dawn?, the minister reflected on the many challenges facing European and Spanish foreign policy.

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