Will Gibraltar be less safe because of the open border with Spain under the 2026 UK/EU Treaty?
Short answer
No. The Government will strengthen law enforcement along the border using modern technologies including Live Facial Recognition, CCTV, and a new Tri-Service Joint Operating Base. Infrastructure will channel all entry via one monitored highway. The treaty establishes closer cooperation with Spain, Member States and EUROPOL. Gibraltar's small size makes illegal migration easily detectable, similar to Monaco and San Marino.
Detailed answer
The Government understands the concerns expressed by sectors of the public with respect to public safety and security issues which could arise as a result of having an open border with Spain. The Government can only continue to reassure the public that Gibraltar will be made more secure with a treaty than without one. First, the Gibraltar Government will strengthen the presence of crime law enforcement agencies along the border and will make full use of modern-day technologies deployed in border areas around the world which assist with the detection of offenders or persons who are of interest to law enforcement agencies. This will include Live Facial Recognition and a new Tri-Service Joint Operating Base for the RGP, Customs and the BCA at the area of the Airport/Four Corners. New CCTV, lighting and permanent mobile controls will be enabled at Four Corners. Second, infrastructure along the border, including the airport facilities, runway, MOD facilities and the MOD estate, as well as all the Kingsway Tunnel, all of which are heavily secured and surveilled, will push all those entering Gibraltar to do so via the one public highway which will be monitored, 24/7, both by patrolling law enforcement agents and through the use of the technologies referred to in the preceding paragraph. Third, the treaty will establish closer cooperation on law enforcement on criminal justice matters with Spain and the Member States as well as European organisations such EUROPOL than ever before. More intelligence will be shared (including with respect to criminal records), more will be done jointly, and there will be fewer barriers in communication which, in the past, have only benefitted those who seek to harm society. Fourth, we do not consider that an open border would lead to a greater number of illegal migrations into Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a small territory. Like today, anyone looking to live in Gibraltar illegally would be easily identified and deported. Fifth, Gibraltar will not be the only example of a small territory with open borders with its neighbours. Monaco borders France and San Marino borders Italy. Both France and Italy are in the Schengen Area. Very much for the same reasons we provide above, both Monaco and San Marino are two of the safest countries in the world and neither have systematic illegal migration issues.