Gibraltar set to become part of EU Schengen Zone in new deal

Britain is to hand control of Gibraltar border to Europe

This means Brits will have to show their passports to Spanish or EU border guards when crossing the border or after landing at the Gibraltar airport.

At present, Gibraltar residents can cross the border by showing their residence cards and Spanish citizens can cross using their government-issued ID card.

Spain relinquished Gibraltar to the UK in 1713 as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession, under the Treaty of Utrecht.

Gibraltar's population is heavily in favour of remaining a British overseas territory.

99% of the Gibraltarians rejected the proposal for Gibraltar to share sovereignty with Spain in 2002.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European Minister Stephen Doughty travelled to Gibraltar on Tuesday ahead of today's (June 11) talks with Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo and his wider cabinet.

Today's negotiations about the final parameters of the agreement will be followed by discussions with EU and Spanish ministers in Brussels.

Nonetheless, a Foreign Office source claimed that a deal was not yet finalised and that several impediments remained, per LBC.

Writing on X, Picardo claimed it was "time to try to finalise arrangements for a lasting, stable relationship between Gibraltar and the EU/Spain which is safe, secure and beneficial".

However, not everyone is as hopeful as Gibraltar's chief minister, with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman writing on X: "Another surrender and a handover in all but name. This government consistently undermines Britain, and it is absolutely unforgivable.

"The Falklands will be next."

MP Caroline Dinenage also took to X to share her opinion on the matter: “Call me a cynic but it’s notable that this slipped out just as Parliament has gathered to hear the Spending Review”

Under the deal, Gibraltar would join the bloc's Schengen free movement zone and therefore become an associate member of the EU's passport-free Schengen zone.