If you’ve been following the news, all signs point to EU/UK Treaty negotiations ending soon. Lines are drawn and tensions are high. 

Though “optimistic”, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo called on Spain to accept Gibraltar’s “reasonable and well-balanced” treaty proposals, warning that failure to do so would “condemn us all” to difficult border controls. In contrast, Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, insisted the UK and Gibraltar must choose between the “comprehensive, balanced, and pragmatic” EU/Spain proposals or face the consequences of stricter EU border controls from November.

What’s happening in November?

If the EU launches its automatic entry/exit system (EES) as planned on November 10th, it could all change at the border. Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel said ‘bridging measures’ would end once the scheme is live, signalling the end of special treatment for Gibraltar red ID card holders, giving many a Brexit ‘reality shock’.

Why does this matter?

The EES would introduce biometric checks (fingerprints and facial scans) for non-EU nationals, including British citizens entering the Schengen zone. For Gibraltar residents, this could mean long-term disruptions at the border as without an agreement, residents may only be permitted to stay in the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period.

• Stricter border checks could create long delays, impacting businesses reliant on cross-border trade.
• Changes could affect workers’ mobility and day-to-day operations for companies on both sides of the border.
• More information is needed on the EES rollout, and its impact on Gibraltar

Needless to say, the outcome of the treaty talks will significantly shape the business environment in Gibraltar and the Campo. 

So what now?

With the November 10th deadline looming, businesses must stay informed on treaty developments and prepare for potential changes at the border. If showing a passport becomes necessary when entering Gibraltar, this 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…

Read the Government’s EES Technical Notice (Published July ’24).