Else Beekman
The Government of Gibraltar has declared its readiness to implement passport checks for EU citizens crossing the border if Spanish authorities impose Schengen controls on Gibraltarians. Chief Minister Fabián Picardo has stated that if Spain proceeds with these measures, Gibraltar will respond within the hour.
“I have given instructions that if they start, we will start within an hour”, he said. His remarks, reported by the Gibraltar Chronicle, highlight growing tensions over border regulations. Herewith, the risk of long queues forming at entry and exit points of the Rock during peak hours has resurfaced.
Spain’s gradual reinforcement of passport controls
Reports from media outlets such as Europa Sur indicate that Spanish authorities plan to reintroduce gradual passport checks for Gibraltarians at the border crossing between the British territory and La Línea de la Concepción. This move has raised concern on both sides of the frontier.
Juan Franco, mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, has voiced his worries about the potential escalation of border controls. He emphasised the significant impact such measures would have on local residents, who rely on daily cross-border travel for work and business.
Passport stamping policy
The chief inspector responsible for the border post officially communicated the recent passport stamping policy on February 13 in an internal memo to subordinates. This followed testimony given on February 7 in court by the head of the Central Border Unit (UCF), who asserted that the Gibraltar border fully complies with the Schengen Border Code. This regulation mandates passport checks for citizens from non-EU countries.
Previous incidents of border delays
This is not the first time border controls have led to friction. In October 2024, lengthy queues formed at the Gibraltar border after Spanish authorities required Gibraltarians to show passports before entering Spain. The Government of Gibraltar responded the following morning by tightening entry restrictions for Spanish workers commuting to the Rock during peak hours. These tit-for-tat measures lasted several hours before both sides reverted to previous procedures.
The situation led to an internal complaint by the Spanish border police, who sought clarification from their superiors regarding passport checks for Gibraltarians. The case was later brought before a court in La Línea de la Concepción, prompting further legal scrutiny of the enforcement of Schengen border rules at the Gibraltar crossing.
Legal review and government stance
A Spanish judge has now ordered an investigation into whether the National Police’s border control actions comply with Schengen regulations. Authorities have been requested to provide reports on the passport control system at the Gibraltar border and the application of Schengen rules.
Meanwhile, Pedro Fernández, Spain’s government representative in Andalucia, reaffirmed that Gibraltar’s border is operating within the Schengen framework and will continue to do so.
Also read: Countdown to a Gibraltar border crisis: One month to decide