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Spain is preparing for a landmark moment in the Campo de Gibraltar as the physical border fence separating La Línea de la Concepción from Gibraltar is set to come down. First Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, confirmed on Monday that President Pedro Sánchez will soon visit the region to commemorate the “definitive dismantling” of the fence.

 

The announcement coincides with a key development at the European level. José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed from Brussels that the European Commission will publish the legal text of the agreement between London and Brussels regarding Gibraltar this week, making it freely accessible online. The agreement, which defines Gibraltar’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union, requires ratification by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, as well as by the British Parliament, before it can come fully into force. Sources indicate it could be applied provisionally from April 10, aligning with the European Entry and Exit System rollout.

 

For the Spanish Government, the removal of the fence carries significant symbolic and practical weight. Montero described the progress as “magnificent news for the province of Cádiz and, more specifically, for the Campo de Gibraltar region.” She emphasised that the milestone represents a “historical aspiration of the Campo de Gibraltar” and affirmed that “with Pedro Sánchez’s government, it will become a reality.” She added that the event will allow “everyone to travel freely without any problems.”

 

Beyond symbolism, the government has been working to ensure economic fairness. Montero highlighted that the Ministry of Finance has undertaken “very strict” measures to prevent “any kind of unfair competition between businesses or shopping centres within Gibraltar, outside of it, or in La Línea.” She also praised coordination with the Gibraltarian government in recent months, which has helped resolve key commercial and fiscal matters ahead of the border change.

 

The planned removal of the fence will be accompanied by a public event in the region, providing a moment for local residents and officials to witness a transformation decades in the making. “The announcement opens a new chapter for one of Europe’s most unique borders,” Montero said, underscoring the historical and social significance of the change.

 

If the timeline proceeds as expected, the Campo de Gibraltar will soon see a scene unseen for generations: the disappearance of a border that has long symbolised separation, paving the way for a freer, more cooperative era between Spain, the United Kingdom, and Gibraltar.

 

Image: wikicommons