The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has presided over the demolition of the Gibraltar Fence in La Línea following the entry into force of the EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar. Sánchez highlighted free movement, customs union, and a social fund for the area.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, stated this Wednesday that "today we make history" with the end of the La Línea de la Concepción Fence, which he described as "the last wall of continental Europe." During the demolition event, held at the border itself, Sánchez emphasized that a "new era of coexistence and shared prosperity" opens up for the Campo de Gibraltar, a region that, he said, "reconciles with its true destiny: to be a bridge and not a barrier."
The head of the Executive appeared alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the Mayor of La Línea, Juan Franco. The symbolic demolition of the fence coincides with the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar, negotiated with Spain's decisive participation. Sánchez defined the pact as "a fair agreement that protects our interests and fully meets the objectives we had set."
Free movement, customs union, and shared airport management
The President detailed the three pillars of the agreement. Firstly, regarding the free movement of people, Spain will exercise Schengen competencies at the port and airport of Gibraltar, ensuring the security of the European external border and full control over visas. Secondly, a customs union is established between the EU and Gibraltar, which, according to Sánchez, "puts an end to historical imbalances" through indirect fiscal convergence.
In the field of transport, the agreement opens the Gibraltar airport to civil traffic with a shared management model. Sánchez highlighted that this will offer "new opportunities for connectivity, tourism, investment, and development across the Campo de Gibraltar." The measure will particularly benefit the more than 15,000 cross-border workers who cross the Fence every day, of whom 70% are Spanish nationals and represent half of Gibraltar's workforce.
Guarantees for workers and a social fund
"But if there is one chapter that summarizes the spirit of this agreement, it is the one dedicated to people," Sánchez emphasized. The President insisted that the Government's top priority has been to safeguard the rights of cross-border workers. Thus, unemployment benefits will be guaranteed, pensions will be protected and can be supplemented up to the Spanish minimums, and delays in payments due to administrative discoordination will be eliminated.
Moreover, any EU citizen with legal residency in Spain will be able to work in Gibraltar without discrimination and on equal terms. The agreement also creates a social fund to promote cohesion and solidarity between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, funded by the EU and the UK. This fund will help alleviate inequalities with concrete actions in training and employment for the region's youth.
Sánchez thanked the work of the European Commission, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Fabián Picardo, and the involved mayors, as well as social agents and the State Security Forces. "Today's Spain is a country that looks to the world aware that conflicts are not to be managed indefinitely, but to be resolved," he concluded.
For residents of the Campo de Gibraltar, the agreement represents a radical change: the end of long queues at the border, new job opportunities, and greater economic integration with Gibraltar. Cross-border workers, who until now faced uncertainty regarding their benefits, will see their rights protected. The social fund, yet to be allocated, is shaping up to be a key tool for training and youth employment.
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