To quote GBC’s Brexit coverage, “We’ve heard it all before,” but recent developments suggest renewed agreement-related activity. The Chief Minister met with David Lammy, with further UK-Spain ministerial talks expected and the FCDO held an EES/ETIAS briefing in Gibraltar.

Could a deal come home to roost?

Earlier this week, El Pais reported that Albares would travel to London this month in a “final attempt” to salvage the Gibraltar agreement. It stated Spain and the UK would “aim for a last trilateral meeting with the European Commission before a new College of Commissioners takes over”.

The CM flew to London for his first in-person meeting with David Lammy since he was appointed UK foreign minister. Lammy has since shared on X, “This Government is committed to concluding a UK-EU agreement which provides certainty for Gibraltar and its people,” Whilst his commitment is reassuring, there’s nothing new in what he’s said.

So what IS new?

The European Union (EU) is set to introduce two separate but interconnected schemes that will affect non-EU citizens travelling to these EU countries.

EES stands for ‘Entry/Exit System’. It is an automated system for registering travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries each time they cross an EU external border.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a travel authorisation to enter the EU for citizens of non-EU countries that do not require a visa to enter the EU.

Why does it matter?

The EU wants to implement EES on 10th November causing potential chaos at UK/EU borders – including Gibraltar. The scanning of passports might also signal the end of special treatment for Gibraltar red ID card holders giving many a Brexit ‘reality shock’.

If showing a passport becomes necessary when entering Gibraltar, this clearly means you MUST have a passport. We’ll keep sharing what we know, but in the meantime, we recommend checking whether employees actually have a passport as many may be crossing the border using their national ID card only…