The fence separating Spain from Gibraltar was demolished at midnight on July 15, 2026, ending more than a century of border controls after five years of negotiations.
Pedro Sánchez attended the removal of the main fence with a crane and declared that today falls the last wall of continental Europe. The president stated that conflicts are not to be managed but resolved and highlighted a new era of shared prosperity.
The provisional agreement signed between the EU and the United Kingdom allows free movement of people and goods. Spain exercises Schengen controls at Gibraltar's port and airport, while a customs union and shared airport management are established.
More than 15,000 workers cross the border daily, 70 percent of Spanish nationality. The treaty guarantees their unemployment benefits and pensions, and creates a social fund for regional cohesion.
Some residents celebrated the moment with flags and horns, although shouts of Spanish Gibraltar were heard. The mayor of La Línea, Juan Franco, noted that the screen has finally been passed in this historic conflict.
