Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

It would be easier to use the AP-7 toll road to Málaga but it’s pricey and inland.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

As Fred said pay the toll and avoid that coast road like the plague! It’s the worst road I’ve driven on in Spain when I stayed in Estepona. The drive from Seville to Gib will be longer - Jerez is a little closer if that’s an option.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Open borders!

Oh, happy days.

Roll on the good times when Gib joins Schengen and the Customs Union, rather than having some strange ad-hoc arrangement.

Can't be far away now. :)

You must be really chuffed, Fred :thumbup:

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

I was quite content with the closed border, the only setback was when one wanted to drive to Portugal or the UK
Now there's a major increase in theft and begging

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Presumably you want the UK to have open borders, join Schengen and be in a customs union. Sounds good to me.

Just like the Canary Islands, Gibraltar has never been in the customs union and they are not going to join it now. Gibraltar is similar to Andorra and that is the model they going to follow.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Dear Fred

On Friday, the "rogue officer" David Barrero, ordered the stamping of all passports at the border. Within an hour, Barrero received instructions, transmitted by email, to immediately appear at the local police station and place himself at the disposal of the head of the Immigration Service "until further notice" whilst in parallel, orders were also given for these additional controls to cease. However, Barrero returns to his job this morning as his dismissal must come from the director general of the National Police and it must be accompanied by a new position. The National Police will revert to no stamping of red card holder's passports "until there is an agreement between Spain and the United Kingdom". In parallel the chief inspector plans to go to the Court of First Instance and Instruction in La Línea to expand the complaint he filed in November 2024 for alleged prevarication against several of his commanders. The circus continues. Spanish press.

Treaty: In a televised interview with Spain’s Canal 24 Horas on Thursday evening, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo remained optimistic about a post-Brexit deal, highlighting good-faith negotiations while rejecting Spanish police at Gibraltar’s airport or port. He also defended Gibraltar’s land reclamation projects, asserting they comply with international environmental regulations

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

What a cushy job - so he can only be fired by the very top man and on top of that simultaneously needs to be offered a different position to jump right into?

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

According to todays news he has been suspended for five and a half months without pay.
I drove into Spain this morning with a minimal queue.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Nearly there!

Brexit pushes Gibraltar into EU customs union and Schengen area

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Does this mean if you are a visa required national to enter Schengen countries for a visit, you now need to have a Schengen visa before you can fly from the UK to Gibraltar even you are only visiting Gibraltar and not going to Spain overland from Gibraltar?

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

According to Sky news yesterday, one part of this means if you live in Gibraltar and have friends and family visiting you from outside the Schengen area then your family and friends will now have to adhere to the Schengen rules, I could not believe what I was hearing Gibraltar is under British sovereignty but also stated was that the Gibraltarians are very happy with this and the new border regs, if that is the case then all well and good.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Yes, Gibraltar will be part of the Schengen zone and all third country visitors will be subject to the Schengen rules and quite rightly, their documents will inspected by Spanish border guards who are controlling the Schengen area.

The Gibraltarians are broadly happy with this agreement but obviously they would rather have the pre Brexit arrangements they had before 2016 because they are now going to have to impose a sales tax on all goods but fortunately the EU have agreed to 15% rising to 17% (the lowest rate possible) over 3 years. This is to avoid undue hardship for shopkeepers in Main Street etc.

The most important thing is that Gibraltarians (many of whom live in Spain) now have their precious EU freedom of movement back and Spanish cross border workers have future security. I've been a frequent visitor to Gibraltar for 25 years and in that time, I have got to know quite a few Gibraltarians and Spanish workers who are great people.

Gibraltarians and Spanish cross border workers have had 9 years of hell worrying about the viability of Gibraltar post Brexit. This is all because of idiotic Brexit so with the greatest respect, the needs of UK nationals visiting Gibraltar, being subjected to the 90/180 day travel rules and being inspected Spanish border guards is not important. Gibraltarians and Spaniards are important and as long as they are happy with the deal, nothing else matters.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

No threat to British sovereignty over Gibraltar deal, says Lammy

So some kind of half-way thing like Northern Ireland perhaps?

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

In the end they had no choice, this deal really was the only solution. Picardo has worked tirelessly on this agreement and would not agree to something that damaged Gibraltar.

Let's hope it's ratified before Sanchez gets thrown out. They need to get a move on.

Re: GIBRALTAR 2024
 

Lammy-speak. Gibraltar is becoming an associate member of Schengen instead of 'joining' it, which means the overseas territory will practically be in the Schengen zone.

The whole Gibraltarian border at the airport is most likely to become redundant if all travellers are then subject to EU/Spanish border control. Suppose the Gibraltarians have let you in, but when you walk up to the Spainards, they refuse to do the same. What can you do then? You can't really stay in Gibraltar once there is free movement across the land border with Spain.

We opted out of Schengen as a EU member state. Gibraltar is now opting in as a non-EU territory.