New era for Gibraltar with removal of border controls with Spain
Gibraltar and Spain are set to remove border controls on July 15, facilitating freedom of movement for thousands of daily commuters. This development follows complex negotiations between the UK and the EU regarding the territory's post-Brexit status.
Why it matters
The removal of the border is a major geopolitical shift that eases economic and social friction between the British Overseas Territory and Spain.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Guy Hedgecoe Business reporter, Gibraltar BBC Shilpi Chotrani, who commutes from Spain to Gibraltar every day, can't wait for the removal of the border Every weekday morning, Shilpi Chotrani rides her bicycle from her home in the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción to Gibraltar. It's a short journey but it means crossing an international border.
A British Overseas Territory of around 40,000 inhabitants, Gibraltar has a border control for those entering and leaving.
That means that during the morning and afternoon rush hours, when around 15,000 Spaniards who work in the territory cross the frontier, there can be long, time-consuming queues.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in