Today marks another historic day for Gibraltar, with the provisional implementation of the Treaty on Gibraltar’s future relationship with the European Union and the beginning of free flow at the frontier.

This is a moment of profound significance for Gibraltar and for the wider region. It represents the delivery of an agreement that protects every matter of fundamental importance to Gibraltar, safeguards British sovereignty, secures our economic prosperity and creates new opportunities for generations to come.

The Treaty preserves Gibraltar’s constitutional position, protects our way of life and gives our people the certainty and confidence to look to the future with optimism. It ensures that Gibraltar can continue to thrive as a modern, outward-looking and prosperous British territory, while building a closer and more constructive relationship with our neighbours and with the European Union.

As with any transformation of this scale, the new arrangements will experience teething issues during the initial period of implementation. That process does not detract from the historic significance of what has been achieved or from the considerable benefits that the Treaty will bring to Gibraltar and to the surrounding region.

The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, was present on the Spanish side, with both Governments marking together the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between Gibraltar and Spain.

The removal of the frontier barrier is a powerful symbol of the progress that has been made. It reflects a shared determination to move beyond the divisions and difficulties of the past and to build a future founded on dialogue, cooperation, mutual respect and shared prosperity.

This is a Treaty for people. It is a Treaty for residents of Gibraltar. It is a Treaty for the thousands of workers who cross the frontier every day, for families with ties on both sides, for businesses seeking certainty and opportunity, and for young people who will inherit the relationship that is now being built.

The lifting of routine checks at the frontier will make a real and immediate difference to daily life. It will allow residents, workers and visitors to move more freely between Gibraltar, Spain and the wider European Union, while supporting economic growth, investment and employment throughout the region.

The Treaty delivers fluidity without compromising Gibraltar’s sovereignty, and unlocks the benefits of a closer relationship with our neighbours and with Europe.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: “Today we have removed a barrier that stood between Gibraltar and our neighbours for well over a century.

“This is a Treaty that protects every matter of fundamental importance to Gibraltar. It safeguards our British sovereignty, protects our constitutional position, secures our prosperity and opens new opportunities for our people and for future generations.

“It is a Treaty for people, a Treaty of hope and opportunity, and a Treaty of joint prosperity. It allows us to move beyond the divisions of the past without surrendering anything that makes Gibraltar who we are.

“There will inevitably be practical matters to refine as these historic arrangements are put into operation, but nothing can diminish the scale or significance of what Gibraltar has achieved.

“I wish to recognise the important role played by the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and by his Government. Their political will, perseverance and commitment to dialogue with the Government of Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, the European Union and all the partners and stakeholders involved have helped make this agreement possible.

“I also want to pay particular tribute to Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who has been equally committed to delivering this Treaty and has worked tirelessly to help bring us to this historic moment. He once told me, ‘When you really believe in something, it is easy to deliver.’ His belief in the possibilities offered by this agreement, and his determination to see it through, have made an important contribution to what we celebrate today.

“I am particularly pleased that Prime Minister Sánchez came to the frontier today to mark this historic occasion with us. His presence reflects the importance of the moment and our shared determination to lay the foundations for a new relationship based on cooperation, confidence and mutual respect.

“We are beginning to heal the scars of a long and complicated history. Together, we now have the opportunity to redefine that relationship for generations to come, with Gibraltar’s sovereignty, identity and interests fully protected.

“It is our children and our grandchildren who will reap the greatest rewards from the free flow that begins today.

“Gibraltar moves forward stronger, more secure, more prosperous and more confident in its future.”

The Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon Dr Joseph Garcia CMG MP, said: “The removal of the frontier gates carries a powerful significance at many different levels.

“At the political level, it marks the end of the frontier as an instrument of coercion against Gibraltar. General Franco used the border in that way for decades, and others subsequently sought to use it as a means of exerting pressure on our people. A fluid frontier, without routine immigration controls, means that people will no longer be subjected to delay or disruption for political purposes.

“But this moment also has a profoundly human dimension.

“It matters enormously to the many families whose lives span both sides of the frontier, and particularly to those in Gibraltar and Spain who lived through the years when the border was closed. Their personal relationships, opportunities and daily lives were shaped by decisions taken by states rather than by choices of their own.

“The removal of the gates is therefore about much more than the dismantling of a physical barrier. It is about bringing to an end a painful chapter in our history and ensuring that future generations are not burdened by the divisions of the past.

“The political and the human dimensions of this moment are equally important. Together, they demonstrate why the Treaty represents such a significant achievement for Gibraltar, for the surrounding region and for all those whose lives are connected across the frontier.”