Gibraltar joins the Schengen Area!

[John]

Yesterday an agreement reached between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain, yes Gibraltar has joined the Schengen Area!

Good news, because without that there could have been grave implications for the border between Gibraltar and Spain. Now it will be an open border.

[Tobias]

This deal creates a rather perverse situation, despite Gibraltar being a British Overseas Territory this proposed deal will allow nationals from Spain and other countries within the Schengen area to cross freely into Gibraltar while those arriving from the UK would be subject to passport controls and the 90/180 days limit on stays in Schengen. Sovereignty? Control of our Sovereign borders?

[John]

Tobias, indeed, and presumably those living in Gibraltar can go and live and work in any EEA country?

Just wondering how long you have to live in Gibraltar to get that categorisation?

[Tom & Nok]

At a glance, ten years of residence in Gibraltar is among the many conditions to be satisfied to achieve "Gibraltarian status" - see section 9(f) of the Gibraltarian Status Act.

The Spanish government has confirmed that there will be freedom of movement between Gibraltar and the rest of the Schengen zone, with Gibraltar now becoming a de facto external Schengen border. There will also be access to the single market for Gibraltar. It appears that Gibraltar has now become much more aligned with the EU than was the case before Brexit. Gibraltarians will be able to use their Gibraltar ID cards to travel within the Schengen zone.

Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency) will be the face of the Gibraltar external Schengen border for an initial transition period but will answer to Spain which will is the guarantor of the integrity of the Gibraltar part of the Schengen border.

Source:
In Spanish: Gibraltar: España y el Reino Unido llegan a un “principio de acuerdo” para derribar la verja de Gibraltar | España | EL PAÍS
but in English here: https://english.elpais.com/brexit/20...
(If using a PC, these links are behind a paywall but there is no paywall if you use a smartphone browser)

[Tobias]

.. Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency) will be the face of the Gibraltar external Schengen border for an initial transition period but will answer to Spain which will is the guarantor of the integrity of the Gibraltar part of the Schengen border. ..

This is a concerning development, how does this demonstrate British 'sovereignty' or protecting our borders?

[caller]

Personally, I think it a very pragmatic arrangement, depending on what the 'initial transition' period is defined as? With Spains well known intransigence, I was half expecting a Berlin Wall scenario where provisions had to be shipped and flown in! I well remember many years ago, when travelling through Spain, not being ablo to enter Gibraltar, because Spain had closed the border.

[PlymouthNick]

We have always had to go through passport control so nothing changes for UK citizens...

[John]

Nothing changes, except Gibraltar now in the Schengen Area, but not true "We have always had to go through passport control" ... inside the Schengen Area!

In the past I have, for example, flown from Spain to Denmark, both Schengen Area countries, and there is no passport control for such a journey.

Now fly from the UK to Gibraltar, you would be stamped into the Schengen Area on arrival, and later you would pass into Spain with no passport control, and can freely move around the whole Schengen Area again without passport control.

[-Keith-]

I agree with caller, it's a very sensible compromise.

[prikphet]

Great compromise but ridiculous that Gibraltar should remain British in my opinion and I'm a Brexiteer !

[sisaket]

Great compromise but ridiculous that Gibraltar should remain British in my opinion and I'm a Brexiteer !

The locals continually vote '' Not '' to be Spanish.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/02/28/gibraltar-will-never-accept-shared-sovereignty-uk-spain-brexit/

[Tom & Nok]

The locals continually vote '' Not '' to be Spanish.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/02/28...-spain-brexit/

True, however 96% of the locals also voted to remain within the EU in the 2016 referendum.

Just as the UK government conceded in December 2020 that EU border control officers are now stationed at Northern Ireland's ports, I suspect that some point after the four year transition period, the UK government will agree to allow Spanish border control officers to be stationed at Gibraltar airport and port.

According to the Gibraltar Schengen agreement, Spain has the final word on who can cross the new Schengen border to enter Gibraltar, and Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, has stated, "Gibraltar will not become a Schengen member but will become a Spanish (sic) entry point to the wider Schengen zone."

sources:
https://elpais.com/espana/2021-01-01...ra-espana.html
(this is behind a paywall on a PC but not on a smartphone browser)

https://www.euronews.com/2020/12/31/...rderless-schen