https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...pain-minister/

Yesterday August 4th was the 320th anniversary of the invasion of Gibraltar by Dutch and British forces.

Gibraltar National Day, celebrated annually on 10 September, is the official national day of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The day commemorates Gibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967, in which Gibraltarian voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanishsovereignty, or remain under British sovereignty, with institutions of self-government.[

The options presented to Gibraltarians in a referendum were:[4]

1. To pass under Spanish sovereignty in accordance with the terms proposed by the Spanish Government; or
2. Retain their link with Britain, with democratic local institutions. Britain retaining its present responsibilities.

Gibraltar sovereignty referendum, 1967
Choice VOTES
British sovereignty 12,138
Spanish sovereignty 44

Valid votes 12,182


In 1969, the Spanish government closed the border between Spain and Gibraltar, cutting off all contacts and severely restricting movement. The border was not fully reopened until February 1985.

I arrived in Gibraltar in 1976 and experienced eight years of closed frontier.

The Spanish Crown formally ceded the territory ( of Gibraltar ) in perpetuity to the British Crown in 1713 under Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht.

They changed their minds in 1727 and haven't stopped whinging ever since!

Today I am celebrating amongst other things 48 years since I arrived in Gibraltar

Congratulations! 1976, you beat me to it. My very first trip to Gibraltar was a childhood holiday with my parents in 1977. We stayed at the recently demolished Caleta Palace hotel for a week then sailed to Morocco (Tangier) for a week and then back to Gibraltar for one night at the old Holiday Inn in the centre of town before flying home. Remember the swimming pool on the roof?

I remember Liptons, the News Around the Rock radio broadcast announcing RAF wives' badminton(!), loads of military personnel and I remember meeting people who used to get in their cars and drive around the rock for the sheer hell of it. Someone my father knew from Customs and Excise drove my brother and I round at high speed and I will always remember him taking us right up to the border and seeing the poignant sight of the open gate on the Gibraltar side and the closed gate on the Spanish side. Correct me if I'm wrong Fred but I'm sure the original gates are still there on both sides.

We found Gibraltar fascinating and unique - not like the UK and not like Spain but an interesting mixture of both. It's still a great place today.

Lou I will have to check the gates.
Cars no longer exit by the old crossing point.

My first memory was of the people on both sides trying to communicate with family members split by the closing of the frontier, particularly new babies being held up so relatives on the opposite side could see the latest aditions to their families.

You are correct Lou.
Not only are the original gates still there but the newer crossing points are also gated on the Gibraltar and Spanish sides.

Apparently there was chaos at the frontier this morning.
Late yesterday evening Spanish immigration started stamping all Gibraltarian passports including people with red ID cards.
So at 7am today Gibraltar immigration refused to let Spaniards with only ID cards enter Gib and demanded they presented passports which they then stamped CHAOS.
Very few of the spaniards crossing to work in Gib have passports.
Our Chief Minister has been warning that this is what will happen once the EES system is introduced by the EU

Facebook link to the preceeding post

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gF7DXCtyDCu3kYLJ/

​​​​​I think Gibraltarian red card holders should be given special rights and have EU freedom of movement because like the people in the north of Ireland, they didn't vote for this and they don't deserve it.

This is interesting:

https://www.gbc.gi/news/breaking-new...gibraltar-reci

https://www.chronicle.gi/tit-for-tat...-border-chaos/

Fred, a photo of the very gates we talked about is in the first article!

We are possibly returning to the good old days of 1969 to 1982 / 1984..
From 69 until 82 the frontier was closed entirely.
In 82 it was opened to pedestrians and in 84 vehicular traffic recomenced.
Gibraltar replaced the previous Spanish workers with Moroccan workers, this could happen again to the detriment of the Campo de Gibraltar where povity and starvation would be rife

I arrived in Gib in 1976 and witnessed 6 to 8 years of this policy introduced by Franco.

Personally I remember these years as some of my best in Gib and have no fears of a return.

Is it a problem if you get your passport stamped though? I got a stamp at BCN and couldn't care less even though I showed my TIE. Guy was too busy chatting on his mobile (while working) so it probably wasn't even deliberate...

Not sure what this border mayhem is all about as nobody wins in the end. Spain won't gain anything by playing games and Gibraltar isn't helping its own businesses by turning away employees at the border.

The problem is for the Spanish who do not have passports

Dear Fred
On Thursday evening at 11pm, Spain changed the process at the border and started stamping the passports of red ID card holders. A clear change in protocol without warning. The instruction for this was given in writing by an Inspector of the Spanish Policia Nacional in La Linea, who allegedly was not authorised to give that instruction by his superior. Gibraltar warned that unless this instruction was reversed by 7am Friday, Gibraltar would stamp passports of anyone not carrying a Gibraltar or British passport as they entered Gibraltar. Which they did. And it caused huge queues and merry mayhem. The Spanish Policia Nacional then reversed their policy around 8am. So Gibraltar stopped. Later Friday morning, Spanish Police once again reverted to the practice of stamping the passports of those holding Gibraltar IDs, as the earlier instruction from the relevant inspector had not been in writing. Later on, the instruction arrived in writing and Spain ceased again, reverting to the interim measures that red ID card holders could enter Spain without a stamp. Fabian Picardo stated "I sincerely hope that incidents like this are the storm before the calm and that we can resolve matters at the negotiating table in a way that works for all of us and can be implemented with public support." The story in full.



Reciprocity: Fabian Picardo advised on Friday: "It is best for those who need to cross the frontier into Gibraltar to always have their passports with them in case we are forced to require them, as we were today. If the benefits currently afforded to Gibraltarians are undone, Gibraltar will immediately reciprocate and I know that every Spanish worker and every visitor will understand that we have to act on this reciprocal basis."



Reciprocity: Although Gibraltar can and did stamp Spanish passports coming into Gibraltar on Friday morning, there is no Gibraltar border force on exit so no stamping back into Spain and there is no 90 / 180 day rule in Gibraltar for day visitors as there is in Schengen.

Reciprocity: This policy has broad support, with the leader of the opposition, Mr Azopardi, stating that Gibraltar will speak with a united political voice, and although it may not be the preferred way forward, Spain needs to understand Gibraltar will reciprocate. GBC.

Reciprocity: The mayor of La Linea, Juan Franco, said: "I was passing by the police station this morning and I found three people, poor things, who had come directly from the border on their scooters because they hadn't been able to cross, because they didn't have a passport and they were asking if they could get one at that hour. This image serves as an example of the scenario, I don't want to say apocalyptic, but almost, that we could find ourselves in if there is no agreement," he stressed.



Treaty: CM on Friday: "I will continue betting on a UK/EU treaty, working towards it, putting sovereignty neutral proposals to resolve the last issues on the table and giving my all so that this process is a success."



Treaty: CM on X yesterday: "The events of this week have been hard and difficult. Imposing reciprocity at our frontier is something we only do in sorrow and not in anger. The ball is now firmly in Spain's court. A deal can now be done for a UK/EU Treaty where we all win, none lose, and ordinary people and workers see their lives improved, not damaged".

EES entry / exit: The EU has decided to delay (again) the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which was set for 10th November. Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said that she hopes that the implementation of the EES starts as soon as possible while stressing that there is no new timeline. She further noted that the EU is now considering launching the EES in a phased-in manner.

Mike Nicholls FCA

Many thanks, this is an interesting read. Seems like all the commotion was caused by a single figure that didn't even have the authority of his or her superior(s) to implement such a change in protocol.

On a side note, do you at all feel land-locked in Gib? Do lots of people drive across the border for shopping, visiting restaurants, etc.? I've only been on a day trip to Gib which was great and all but living somewhere is a completely different experience.