Gibraltar–Spain border

The Gibraltar–Spain border is the international boundary[lower-alpha 1] between the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and the Kingdom of Spain. It is also referred to as "The Fence of Gibraltar" (Spanish: La verja de Gibraltar) or simply "The Fence".[1]

Gibraltar–Spain border
The border, as seen on the map
Characteristics
Entities Gibraltar (UK)
 Spain
Length1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi)
History
Established1704 (de facto)
Capture of Gibraltar
Current shape1909
Building of fence
TreatiesTreaty of Utrecht, Gibraltar Airport Agreement
The border, seen from the Spanish side
The closed Spanish gate at the border between Gibraltar and Spain, 1977

The border runs east-west for a total of 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) separating Gibraltar from the neighbouring Spanish municipality of La Línea de la Concepción.[2] Since Gibraltar (like the United Kingdom) is outside the European Union's Schengen Area, identity checks are required to cross the border.[3]

On 31 December 2020, an agreement in principle had been agreed between Spain and the United Kingdom, for Gibraltar to join the EU's Schengen Area while remaining a British Overseas Territory.[4]

History

The territory of Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. In 1730, the Lines of Contravallation of Gibraltar were built by Spain to isolate Gibraltar: these lines were north of the isthmus linking Spain with Gibraltar. These lines were the first form of border between Gibraltar and Spain.

During the Peninsular War in the early 19th century, Spain had initially been allied to the First French Empire while trying to invade the Kingdom of Portugal, but France shortly afterwards turned on its ally  – thus forcing Spain to ally itself with Great Britain and Portugal against the French Empire. The Lines of Contravallation were blown up by the Gibraltar Commanding Royal Engineer Charles Holloway, with permission from Spain on 14 February 1810, to avoid them falling into the hands of the approaching French.[5] Gibraltar, supported by La Linea, became an important base for Spanish fighters against Napoleon's troops. Currently, all that remains of the Lines of Contravallation are the Ruins of Fort St. Barbara, which is being restored, while remnants of the Fort San Felipe have appeared recently. Fort San Carlos does not seem to have left preserved evidence.

In 1909 Britain decided to reduce the number of sentries and built a fence 7 feet (2.1 m) high,[6] however there was suspicion about the motives for doing so.[7] The line of this fence has become the de facto border. Spain claims that, by building the fence where it did, the United Kingdom annexed 106 of the original 156 hectares of neutral ground. In this location Gibraltar International Airport was built.[8]

Spanish leader Francisco Franco ordered the closure of the border gate on 8 June 1969[9] in response to the Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969. The border at La Linea remained closed for more than 13 years until it was partially reopened to Spanish and Gibraltarian pedestrians on 15 December 1982,[10] and was fully reopened to motor vehicles on 5 February 1985 in preparation for Spain joining the European Communities in 1986.[11][12]

Status of the isthmus

Spain continues to dispute the sovereign status of the isthmus with the United Kingdom, specifically the territory where Gibraltar International Airport stands, in addition to a broader dispute about the status of Gibraltar as a whole. One of the sources of the dispute is the lack of appropriate definitions of what had been actually ceded to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht. The Treaty did not include any map or specific description of the ceded elements, so that Article X is subject to different interpretations from each side. According to Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht, dominion is ceded over the town and castle of Gibraltar, together with the port, fortifications, and forts thereunto belonging.

Customs and identity checks

Customs and identity checks on the Spanish side of the border are carried out by the Spanish Civil Guard and the Spanish National Police. Customs and identity checks on the Gibraltar side of the border are carried out by HM Customs Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Borders and Coastguard Agency.

On 28 December 2020, Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya, announced that cross-border workers who commute between Gibraltar and Spain will be exempt from Spanish border controls after Brexit, even if no agreement on free movement is reached with the United Kingdom.[13]

Congestion charge

In 2010, the People's Party mayor of La Línea, Alejandro Sanchez, attempted to impose a "congestion charge" on people entering or leaving Gibraltar, despite having been told by the Spanish Government that such a charge would be a breach of national and EU law.[14]

Territorial waters dispute

In July 2013, the Gibraltar Government placed a number of concrete blocks in the sea off the coast of Gibraltar, intending to form an artificial reef. The Spanish Government protested, stating that it harmed fishing in the area, restricting access for Spanish fishing vessels. At the end of July the Spanish Government introduced extra border checks for people going in and out of the territory into Spain. The British Government protested as the checks were causing major delays of up to seven hours while people waited to cross the border, and on 2 August the Spanish Ambassador was summoned to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to explain these developments.[15]

Maritime borders

The Gibraltar Port Authority controls the territorial waters of Gibraltar that border Spain's.

Important treaties
The border, as seen from the British side pre-Brexit

References
  1. Olivero, Leo (6 July 2012). "Fear of crossing the Frontier!". Panorama. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. "Length of Land Boundaries Border Countries by Country". Chartsbin. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  3. Garcia, Joe. "Spain would not object to Gibraltar joining Schengen". Panorama. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. "Brexit: Gibraltar gets UK-Spain deal to keep open border". BBC News. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. R. H. Vetch, ‘Holloway, Sir Charles (1749–1827)’, rev. Alastair W. Massie, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 25 May 2013
  6. Simon J. Lincoln (1994). "The Legal Status of Gibraltar: Whose Rock is it Anyway?". Fordham International Law Journal. p. 308. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  7. Jackson, Sir William G. F. (1990). The rock of the Gibraltarians : a history of Gibraltar (2nd ed.). Grendon: Gibraltar Books. p. 262. ISBN 0948466146.
  8. « The respective positions of the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with regard to the dispute over sovereignty over the territory in which the airport of Gibraltar is situated », Xavier H. Maillart (2008), The Travel & Tourism Business Newsletter
  9. "Spanish close off 'Rock'", Montreal Gazette, June 9, 1969, p1
  10. "Spain ends Gibraltar blockade", by John Hooper, The Guardian (London), December 15, 1982, p1
  11. "The siege of Gibraltar is over", The Observer (London), February 3, 1985, p17
  12. "Spain, Gibraltar Open Gate After 16 Years", AP report in The Times Recorder (Zanesville OH), February 5, 1985, pB-1
  13. Reuters Staff (2020-12-28). "Cross-border Gibraltar workers to retain free movement even after Brexit, Spain says". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  14. ROMAGUERA, CÁNDIDO (2010-08-09). "La Línea cobrará un peaje de hasta cinco euros por acceder a Gibraltar". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  15. "Britain Summons Spanish Ambassador Over Gibraltar Border Checks". The Telegraph. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

Notes
  1. The Kingdom of Spain does not recognize the existence of an international boundary

See also
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