The 1.2km fence separating Spain and Gibraltar, once called “the last wall in Western Europe” by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, is scheduled to be dismantled in January 2026.

A Historic Barrier Set to Fall

This major step forward is the centrepiece of a recent post-Brexit agreement between London, Brussels, and Madrid. The removal of the fence, known as la Verja, will transform daily life for the 15,000 people who cross the border for work.

End of Daily Checks for Frontier Workers

The agreement, which still needs to be approved by the European Commission, is a game-changer for the Gibraltarian economy. The deal will scrap daily ID checks for the thousands of frontier workers who live in the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción and travel into the Rock. However, passport controls for dual Spanish/Schengen and British passport holders will remain in place at Gibraltar’s port and airports. The accord also lifts checks on goods moving between the two territories and lays the groundwork for future cooperation on trade, security, and financial matters.

Political Divide in Spain

The response to the deal has been sharply divided in Madrid. The Spanish government sees it as a historic agreement that will "guarantee the future prosperity of the entire region." In stark contrast, the opposition has condemned it as a political sell-out and a surrender of Spain's long-held territorial claims over the disputed enclave. The leader of the centre-right Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has vowed that his party "will not cease to demand sovereignty over Gibraltar" and insists that any final agreement must have parliamentary backing.

The Road to a Deal

The current negotiations come after centuries of dispute. Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht, and has consistently sought to regain control. However, in a 2002 referendum, nearly 99% of Gibraltarians voted against any deal that would involve shared sovereignty with Spain. As the autumn agenda begins, this issue is set to be at the heart of talks when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visits London to meet with UK Premier Keir Starmer.