An event that is already being called historic has taken place at the border between Gibraltar and Spain. Following the implementation of a new agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, the border fence that separated British territory from Spain has been completely dismantled. This was reported by the program "900 Seconds" ([TV3](https://tv3.lv/zinas/arvalstis/vesturisks-notikums-eiropa-nojaukts-zogs-starp-gibraltaru-un-spaniju/)). Now, thousands of people who travel daily between Gibraltar and southern Spain for work and personal matters will no longer have to pass through a physical border. The agreement is the result of four years of negotiations that began after the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. All necessary formalities were completed this week, and the official opening of the border took place just after midnight. The agreement stipulates that Gibraltar will effectively become part of the Schengen Area of free movement. This will allow for the maintenance of free border crossing, which is crucial for the territory's economy. Fewer than 40,000 people live in Gibraltar; however, around 15,000 workers from Spain cross the border daily. This is nearly half of the entire workforce of the British territory. UK Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty stated that the new agreement ensures long-term economic stability for Gibraltar and protects its interests. European Union representative Maroš Šefčovič also described the reached agreement as an important outcome of years of negotiations. "It took four years of patient and complex negotiations, but the result speaks for itself. It is a special feeling to see the border fence disappear," he said. Had the agreement not been reached, a full passport control and lengthy checks could have emerged at the land border after Brexit, seriously complicating daily movement of people and the operation of businesses. Under the new rules, passport control for those arriving in Gibraltar via the airport and seaport will be jointly conducted by the border services of the UK and Spain. At the same time, the authorities in Gibraltar are enhancing security measures. Following the dismantling of the border fence, additional surveillance cameras with facial recognition systems are being installed at entry points and throughout the territory, and the capabilities of the police, customs, and coast guard are being expanded. "The fortress has now become a digital fortress," said Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. Despite the agreement reached, the issue of sovereignty remains unresolved. Gibraltar has been under British control since 1713; however, Spain still claims sovereignty over the territory.
