Gibraltar-La Linea Border

Gibraltar & El Campo
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A refurbishment of the land border is being planned by the Government. This will see changes to the pedestrian and vehicular entrances to Gibraltar.

The government says plans were delayed because of treaty negotiations and plans to install automatic e-gates, which will allow more fluidity if there is no deal. The e-gate designs already have planning permission but the land border refurbishment will need to go to the Development and Planning Commission.

The artist impressions of the border have been published just a day after chaos at the frontier as a new traffic system was implemented by the Spanish side. A third lane has been created for motorcycle users.

Yesterday's substantial traffic appears to have been worsened by one car lane being closed whilst this new system for two wheel vehicles took effect.

Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs says delays have occurred because Gibraltar has not mirrored the traffic flow changes on the Spanish side of the border. Jose Manuel Albares says Gibraltar has been aware of the measure, which was to facilitate the flow of cross border workers.

GBC has asked the Government to clarify whether these refurb plans cover a third lane for two-wheel vehicles, and if there any plans to refurbish the rest of the area between the border, airport and tunnel currently full of concrete blocks.

A Government spokesperson said a decision on both matters will be taken depending on the outcome of the negotiation of a treaty with the European Union

This morning, delays continued at the border, though traffic flow was somewhat smoother.

Two lanes were open for cars with a third one for motorcycle users.

Spain and Gibraltar authorities continue to scan documents, creating some delay.

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Yesterday, in what can only be branded a bizarre circus act of national-populism, the Government rolled out a policy of reciprocity at the frontier, intensifying checks for people crossing into Gibraltar. This reckless decision, predictably, led to longer queues affecting both the local workforce and visitors.

For those lauding this as some strategic retaliation against Spain's stricter border checks, let's have a closer look at its implications:

• This Is Not Just About Spain: This isn’t some simple Spain-Gibraltar tiff. This impacts Gibraltarians, British expats, and global professionals who work here. What is the business establishment and its organisations saying about this decision? Silence, and we can guess why.

• Economic Self-Sabotage: Let's state the obvious: cross-border workers aren’t charity cases – they’re a fundamental part of our economy. They create wealth in our businesses. They pay and generate tax revenue. Essentially, we're reaping the benefits of talents subsidised by other nations, with workers choosing to put expensive skills to work for the benefit of our economy and/or public services. Workers with coveted skillsets avoid places with border nightmares, meaning that obstacles at the frontier make Gibraltar a less appealing destination to work or invest in.

• Jeopardise Essential Services: The GHA, the Care Agency, social services and many other vital public services are highly dependent on cross-frontier workers. If these people have more trouble crossing the frontier, inevitably the quality of these services will suffer, affecting the Gibraltarian public.

• It Will Be Ineffective: The Spanish central Government does not care one iota if a few thousand Campo workers have trouble getting to work on time, not even if they lose their jobs. They’ve historically sidelined regions like the Campo de Gibraltar, especially La Linea, and our Government's actions won’t change that long-standing indifference.

• Tourism on the Chopping Block: Visitors coming to Gibraltar will have their experiences tarnished further, and this will be reflected in the feedback generated by the Gibraltar tourist experience. This can dissuade future visitors from coming over at least throughout the month of September, the tail end of the high season in which there are still substantial profits to be made by our tourist industry.

Basically, when it comes to the frontier, we have to accept we simply have no leverage. We are the ones who depend on a free-flowing frontier for our well-being and prosperity, not Spain.

And don’t be fooled by the social media echo chambers. I am positive that reasonable, pragmatic Gibraltarians far outnumber the radicals who advocate for closing the frontier, but they are deafeningly quiet, afraid of being accused of treachery by the online fanatics.

On this issue, as on many others, I am convinced that our people are much better than our politicians.

Even the GSD, who in the past has tried to sell a more measured approach to foreign policy, whipped out the populist playbook when describing cross-frontier workers as “pawns” they would have used to secure a better post-Brexit deal - something Fabian Picardo agreed was wrong at the time.

The potential damage of this policy is vast.

Many Gibraltarians have close ties to Spain – they have families, shop at more affordable Spanish supermarkets, or simply relish the freedom of movement.

An unnecessary tightening of the border jeopardises these ties, businesses, public services, and the positive rapport developed during the Brexit talks.

The Chief Minister’s threats and bluster have absolutely no chance of succeeding in Madrid, so why exactly is he doing this?

In my opinion, everything points to the fact that this is more of an electoral manoeuvre than a well-thought-out strategy.

He is firing up his base for what he knows will be a highly disputed election, and nothing fires up Bossano’s red and white army more than a bit of nationalist sabre-rattling.

Unfortunately, we might all end up paying a very high price for Fabian Picardo’s last(?) attempt at re-election.

Marlene Hassan Nahon is an MP for Together Gibraltar, a party she founded and led until her recent announcement that she is stepping back from frontline politics at the end of this electoral term.

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25th October 2023
The entry into force of the European Union’s new automated border control system has again been delayed, offering additional breathing space for Gibraltar amid concern about the practical impact of its introduction at the frontier with Spain.

The new Entry/Exit System [EES] had been due to come into force last May and was initially pushed back to the end of this year.

But now, the full introduction of the EES has been delayed to late 2024.

Introduction of the EU’s European Travel Information and Authorisation System, a new immigration system due to have come into force in November this year, has also been pushed back to early 2025.

The two systems are interlinked and, in the absence of a UK/EU treaty for Gibraltar, would mean much tighter controls on non-EU nationals – including people from Gibraltar – when entering the Schengen zone, including at Gibraltar’s land border with Spain.

The EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council endorsed the revised timeline last week for the rollout of the new information systems, which are used to fight crime and control borders and migration.

It noted that the infrastructure needed for both the EES and ETIAS systems are “…in the process of being deployed.”

“The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit system will be ready to enter into operation in Autumn 2024 and that ETIAS will be ready to enter into operation in Spring 2025,” said Anitta Hipper, the European Commission spokesperson for home affairs.

Under the planned Entry/Exit System, non-EU nationals entering the bloc from a non-EU country – including Gibraltar – would need to register fingerprints and a photograph with their passport details.

Once travellers have given their fingerprints and details, that registration will be valid for three years.

Those details would then be used to conduct biometric checks – meaning fingerprint and facial scans – every time travellers enter the Schengen area, irrespective of the length of their stay.
This will replace passport-stamping.

The EES collects all personal data listed in a person’s travel document, as well as a facial images and fingerprints, and the date and place of entry or exit from and EU country.
Immigration authorities in European countries will use the EES to verify a person’s identity and understand whether they should be allowed to enter or stay in the EU. The data is also accessible by European law enforcement agencies.

The EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which the EU says is time consuming and does not provide reliable data on border crossings or systematic detection of “over-stayers”, meaning travellers who have exceeded the maximum duration of their authorised stay.

Under Schengen rules, non-EU citizens including British nationals after Brexit can only stay in the EU 90 days in any 180-day period before requiring a visa.

A non-EU national who overstays their 90 days can be removed from the territory, fined or detained, and even prevented from re-entering the EU in future.

The introduction of the EES will be a first step toward the EU’s new ETIAS framework, under which visa-exempt non-EU nationals will require authorisation prior to travelling to the Schengen zone.

British nationals will not require a visa to travel to EU countries but will have to register for authorisation from ETIAS and pay seven euros for a three-year visa waiver, much like the US ESTA system that has been in place for some years.

The EES and the wider ETIAS scheme are aimed at speeding up immigration procedures for non-EU nationals through automation, but many EU countries have voiced concerns that they will in fact slow them down.

Some countries believe clearance procedures could take up to four times longer than at present.

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Around 35 people were refused entry into Spain from Gibraltar yesterday, with more individuals reporting on social media that they have received the same treatment today.

Most of those refused entry were British nationals and holders of the blue and magenta Gibraltar Civilian Registration Cards.

The Borders and Coastguard Agency says a Gibraltarian was refused entry to Spain for failing to produce a Gibraltar red ID card.

A Ukrainian national resident in Gibraltar was also refused entry into Spain.

Most were asked for the reason of their visit to Spain and for flights or hotel bookings.

The Agency says it's not aware of any British national who presented their passport and a Gibraltar red ID card, and also asked to provide reasons for travel.

The Government says it understands that the existing status quo has not changed and that Gibraltar red ID card holders will not be required to stamp their passports when crossing the border to travel within Spain.

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23rd November 2023
By Maria Jesus Corrales

The long queues to enter and exit Gibraltar during peak hours in recent days sparked complaints yesterday from many cross-border workers angered by the delays.

Among them were Spanish and EU nationals who had been forced to wait while Policia Nacional officers checked the documentation of every person crossing the border to ensure compliance with Schengen rules, particularly for non-EU nationals.

Spain’s Ministry of the Interior told the Chronicle that no changes had been introduced in the regulations for entering and leaving Spain, or the scrutiny being applied to travellers.

On the ground though, it was clear Spanish immigration officers were applying a stricter interpretation of Schengen rules regarding citizens carrying non-EU passports.

Schengen rules require third country nationals – meaning anyone with a non-EU passport, including those from countries like the UK which do not require a visa for entry – to justify their reason for travel and provide documentary proof of where they will stay, proof of their date of return and evidence that they can fund their time in the Schengen area.

The UK Government applies similar rules for non-resident EU nationals entering the UK.

While the requirements apply to all third country nationals, not everyone crossing a Schengen border would normally be checked as immigration guards can apply checks randomly.

Additionally, for now at least, holders of non-EU passports – including British passports – with a Gibraltar red ID card are being exempted from the Schengen requirements.

This week, the tighter person-by-person checks slowed down border flow and led to queues during busy periods and stressful situations on the ground, especially when people did not meet the Schengen requirements and were turned back.

The worst days were in the immediate wake of last Friday’s visit by the Princess Royal, but by Wednesday the situation at the border was more fluid.

Even so, the cross-border workers’ association, Ascteg, said the queues were "abusive and the height of injustice due to the disturbances they cause" to cross-border workers.

Ascteg accused Spain’s ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior of being "guilty of the harm done to us at the border."

It added that these queues "are starting to resemble those we were forced to endure by Minister Margallo for reasons unknown to us”.

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Policia Nacional to carry out more stringent checks on third party nationals crossing the border

The Policia Nacional will be carrying out more stringent checks on third party nationals crossing the border.

In a report published by the Europa Sur newspaper, Spanish police says it has identified that many of the hotel reservations that are being presented as a reason for travel, have been identified fraudulent or dishonest.

Under the current rules, Gibraltar residents who do not hold a red ID card must provide proof of reason for their visit to Spain.

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Sneaky

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A call from Picardo to Marlaska puts an end to the queues at the Border to enter Spain from Gibraltar

A phone call made by the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, to the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has put an end to the long lines of vehicles that had formed in the Rock to enter Spain through the Border on the afternoon of today, December 16.

The vehicle congestion was mainly caused by Gibraltarian drivers who wanted to leave the British colony almost en masse to take advantage of the good weather that dawned in the Strait area. This, combined with the obligatory police controls to exit, had caused the traffic jam and protests on social media from many of the people on board the vehicles.

Picardo's call to Grande-Marlaska, with whom he maintains a very fluid relationship, has triggered a cascade of orders from the Interior to the police commanders in La LĂ­nea, and from them to their subordinates to ease the passage control. The Border is a Schengen frontier since Gibraltar is a zone belonging to a country outside the EU and a colony whose sovereignty Spain claims.

Nevertheless, in favor of good neighborly relations, Spain turns a blind eye to the Gibraltarians at the Border without asking for their passports and allows them to cross the Border with little or no stopping, a fact that is an anomaly in the European context (no other country among the 27 applies a similar procedure at its external borders), with the added risk that this laxity has the side effect of allowing people not residing in the colony or even those wanted by the justice system to enter Spain.

This situation, as has happened on previous occasions, has generated discontent among the national police officers stationed at the Border, as confirmed by this newsroom.

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The increasing use of technology at airports and borders means that many of the issues Gibraltar has faced with Spain could become a thing of the past. The U.K. has started to move towards new biometric recognition and the EU is expected the switch to its automated Entry Exit System (EES) at some point during the year.

TRIALS
Trials at U.K. airport are expected to commence using biometric border control gates. These are designed to scan the face, eyes and fingerprints of persons wishing to enter the United Kingdom. The objective is to allow border control checks to happen without the need to show a passport. Given the lengthy delays at many border control posts in airports, caused by the need to check each passenger one by one, the idea is that the new biometric gates will speed up transit through the immigration zone.

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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advice for Gibraltar, highlighting the possibility of delays at the border with Spain.

The update posted yesterday also advises British travellers as to the stricter post-Brexit entry requirements and provided a link to the frontier cam.

“The Gibraltar-Spain border is a busy external Schengen border and Gibraltar is outside the Customs Union,” the advice said.

“Spanish border checks can cause delays when crossing between Spain and Gibraltar.”

“The Borders and Coastguard Agency has a live camera feed of the queue at the Gibraltar Frontier and up-to-date information on flights arriving and departing at Gibraltar International Airport.”

It linked too to entry requirements for Spain, which include passports issued within 10 years of entry date and valid for at least three months after proposed departure date.

It reminded travellers of the need to get stamped in and out, and of Schengen rules that mean British travellers can only remain in the Schengen area for 90 days in any 180-day period, unless they have EU residency or a visa.

The advice also reminded travellers that they could be asked to provide proof of funds, accommodation and return travel.

“Some travellers have not been able to provide the full documentation asked of them and have had their travel plans disrupted,” it said.

“For all visitors to Spain there are rules on passport validity and special restrictions on what you can and cannot take into Spain, notably meat and milk products.”

“There is no charge to enter or leave Gibraltar. Do not hand over money to anybody claiming there is a charge.”

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Interior begins the installation of the smart border system with Gibraltar without waiting for an agreement on the colony

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The Entry Exit System approved by the EU for non-EU citizens incorporates cameras and biometric facial controls.

The US and the United Kingdom are suspicious of the collection of data from their military personnel stationed in the 27 and their surroundings.

Conditions to enter Spain from Gibraltar and non-EU countries.

The Ministry of the Interior has begun the installation of a complex smart border system at the entrances and exits of Gibraltar in accordance with the conditions of the Entry Exit System (EES), approved by the European Union (EU) to control citizens, especially to non-EU citizens, at the external borders of the 27.

Although we are still waiting for a possible agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom to enable the free movement of people, capital, goods and services to and from the British colony, which would lead to dismantling the entire system, the Interior has chosen to maintain its plans to control that hot spot. The mechanism includes a system of cameras and biometric facial recognition with a dual purpose: to speed up the procedures for moving from one territory to another – especially for the 15,000 cross-border workers – and to raise security levels.

The installation of the EES computer equipment in the Gate began weeks ago and next Monday, the 15th, the assembly of the new accesses will begin, practically identical to those inaugurated in Ceuta last Wednesday, July 10, by the Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to control entries and exits to and from Morocco through the El Tarajal border.

Among the improvements introduced in Ceuta are closed circuit television, automatic license plate identification systems, people detection equipment, metal arches, luggage scanners, identification systems by rapid fingerprint search, manual metal detectors and security control systems. accesses, according to Interior.

The launch of these same teams between La LĂ­nea and Gibraltar will occur in parallel to the contacts that the governments of Spain and the United Kingdom, with the Spanish JosĂŠ Manuel Albares and the new British Foreign Minister, the Labor Party David Lammy, have resumed after the elections on the 5th in that last country. These conversations are preparatory to those that will have to be resumed by the government of the United Kingdom and the European Commission, which has yet to elect its new officials in this matter, also after the European elections, held between June 6 and 9.

The purpose of this dialogue is the incorporation of Gibraltar into the European Schengen area, although the intention of the Llanista authorities and the United Kingdom is to maintain a privileged status, similar to the current one, with a tax rate significantly lower than that of its Spanish neighbors and with ad hoc adaptation to EU directives in practically all areas.

For the disappearance of the Gate to be possible, understood as the space where EU customs and security controls are carried out, these should be moved to the port and airport of Gibraltar as they are the new entry doors to the EU. For this reason, the investment now undertaken by the Interior to install the EES on the dividing line between Gibraltar and La LĂ­nea may soon have an expiration date and the entire equipment may have to be dismantled and moved.

EU requirements

As long as Gibraltar remains in its current situation, citizens of the United Kingdom, along with those of other nationalities arriving at the Rock, must continue to comply with a series of requirements at the Gate to enter Spain: carry a passport, justify the purpose of the visit and the conditions of your stay (a hotel reservation, for example), as well as demonstrating sufficient means of subsistence. Gibraltarians are the exception, as they enjoy a unique status and pass by simply showing their ID (Identity Card).

Biometric facial controls to identify each individual are intended to speed up this entire process, although in some cases, such as that of members of the British and US armed forces (who so frequently stop at the Gibraltar military base) they can become an inconvenience.

The governments of both countries, according to sources familiar with the matter consulted by Europa Sur, have shown their misgivings about the data that the EU authorities may collect on the members of their military forces when they cross the external borders of the EU. In the case of Gibraltar there are around a thousand British soldiers trapped on the Rock since, to enter Spain, they must meet the requirements that the EU demands of citizens of third countries.

Ceuta serves as a reference. During his visit to the autonomous city, Grande-Marlaska indicated that the El Tarajal border will be intelligent “before the end of the year.” “After six years of work and more than 22 million euros of investment, Ceuta has a modern border post adapted to the needs and requirements of the European Union (EU),” said the Minister of the Interior.

Changes in Gibraltar

In September 2023, the Government of Gibraltar also announced “a major remodeling of the pedestrian and vehicle entrances to Gibraltar on the land border with Spain” by installing “a battery of automatic gates.”

“The remodeling had been delayed while waiting for the negotiation of a treaty with the European Union,” the Llanos authorities indicated in a statement, stressing that this will achieve “more fluid access for people in the event that the treaty is not reaches a negotiated result”, that is, if the Fence does not finally disappear as a result of the talks between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Translated from - Interior inicia la instalaciĂłn del sistema de frontera inteligente con Gibraltar sin esperar a un acuerdo sobre la colonia

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The Spanish authorities are expected to begin work on new access points at the frontier this week.

According to Spanish press reports, this work will commence once the installation of the new Entry Exit System is completed.

The implementation of the EU-approved system began a few weeks ago.

Despite ongoing treaty negotiations, the Spanish government decided to proceed with the installation of high-techequipment, including facial recognition and x-ray technology.

If a treaty granting free movement is secured, the Spanish Ministry for the Interior acknowledges that the costly equipment would need to be dismantled.

The Spanish government says the new Entry Exit System will make border crossings easier, particularly for the 15,000 cross-frontier workers.

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Gibraltar warns its citizens about the installation of new controls at the border starting in November

The Government of Gibraltar has warned its citizens this Tuesday about the new controls at the border that will come into effect next November, along with other external borders of the European Union (EU). This involves a new entry and exit system that the Spanish authorities have begun installing to control citizens, especially non-EU citizens, which includes Gibraltarians and British residents in Gibraltar.

The EES (Entry Exit System) is an automated computer system that will scan passports and provide biometric data—i.e., fingerprints and captured facial images—and maintain an electronic record of travelers' names and the dates and places of entry and exit. This mechanism will effectively replace the current practice of manually stamping passports, allowing for the calculation of the duration of stay in the Schengen area.

The Gibraltarian authorities explain that this is an obligation within the Schengen framework and remind of the general requirements of the Border Code for non-EU citizens, including Gibraltarians. These are:

  • Possessing a valid passport with a minimum validity of three months after the planned departure date from the Schengen area and issued within the last 10 years;
  • Being able to justify the purpose and conditions of the planned stay in the Schengen area and having sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the planned stay and to return to Gibraltar;
  • Not having been in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
  • In the future, possessing an ETIAS pre-authorization.

The Gibraltarian government indicates that to meet these entry conditions, authorities are obliged to carry out "thorough checks," which would be systematic, both upon entry and exit from Gibraltar. "Therefore, if the negotiations with the EU do not conclude successfully or are delayed beyond November, holders of Gibraltarian identity cards could be subjected to the same questioning at the land border with Spain as British citizens currently face who hold Gibraltarian civil registration cards," the Gibraltarian government statement notes. It also warns that entry would be denied to anyone who does not meet the conditions set out in the Schengen Border Code.

The installation of the EES computer equipment at the border began weeks ago and is almost identical to those inaugurated in Ceuta on July 10 by the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to control entries and exits to Morocco through the El Tarajal border.

The implementation of these same systems between La LĂ­nea and Gibraltar will occur in parallel with the contacts that the governments of Spain and the United Kingdom, with Spanish Minister JosĂŠ Manuel Albares and the new British Foreign Secretary, Labour's David Lammy, have resumed following the elections on the 5th of this month in the latter country.

Negotiation of the agreement

Albares indicated on Monday that the negotiation of the Gibraltar agreement will resume "as soon as possible" following the change of government in the United Kingdom and will proceed "from where it was."

He stated this in Brussels at the end of the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting, after being asked about his contacts in this regard with the new British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, whom he met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington on July 11.

According to Albares, both agreed to "resume talks as soon as possible," but explained that the British minister "needs time," as does the new negotiating team of the Labour government to situate themselves, though he acknowledged that Lammy showed a good understanding of "the points of agreement" that had been reached with his predecessor, Conservative David Cameron.

"Much progress had been made until the moment when snap elections were called in the United Kingdom and we will resume from that point," added the minister, who pointed out that in any case "the talks never stopped, they continued at a technical level."

The idea of the two governments, according to Albares, is to "resume them at all levels and with much more force," as both share that the agreement, which will regulate the future relationship of Gibraltar with the EU after Brexit, "is something good and beneficial" for both the Rock and the Campo de Gibraltar.

As such, Albares acknowledged that he does not have "a crystal ball" to predict when the agreement will be reached, but he wanted to make it clear that both he and Lammy desire "the agreement as soon as possible."

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The Gibraltar Government on Tuesday issued a technical notice on forthcoming changes to border checks once the EU’s new automated border control system comes into operation later this year.

The Entry/Exit System [EES], together with the European Travel Information System [ETIAS], would mean much tighter controls on non-EU nationals – including people from Gibraltar – when entering the Schengen zone.

It would operate at all Schengen external borders, including at Gibraltar’s land frontier with Spain.

The forthcoming changes are not unexpected and the warnings are not new either, but with a UK/EU treaty yet to be finalised and the implementation date for the new systems edging closer, the Gibraltar Government’s technical notice offered a stark reminder of the reality of Brexit should a deal not be agreed.

All sides in the treaty negotiation have repeatedly stated their desire to reach agreement “as soon as possible”, but the final stages have proved challenging and a deal has so far remained elusive.

Under the EES, non-EU nationals entering the bloc from a non-EU country – including Gibraltar – would first need to register fingerprints and a facial scan with their passport details.

Spain has already started installing automated self-service kiosks at the border to facilitate registration of these biometric details.

Once travellers have provided their biometric and passport information, that registration will be valid for three years.

Those details would then be used to conduct immigration checks every time travellers enter the Schengen area, irrespective of the length of their stay. This will replace passport-stamping.

In the technical notice, the Government repeated its often-stated position that it will reciprocate with similar biometric checks on the Gibraltar side of the border if a treaty is not reached.

“As the Government of Gibraltar prepares for all eventualities, including a non-negotiated outcome, the public should note that Gibraltar would, in the event of a deal with the EU not being reached, enhance its own border control infrastructure providing for the use of e-gates and automated systems which would also process biometric data as is becoming customary at borders across the globe,” it said.

No.6 Convent Place said the EES and ETIAS systems are scheduled to come into force in November 2024, adding that this date “is likely to be before an EU treaty is agreed and implemented”.

The entry into force of both systems has been repeatedly delayed, however, and the EU this week declined to confirm an exact date although it told the Chronicle ETIAS would not come into operation until next year.

“The roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit System will be ready to enter into operation in Autumn 2024 and that ETIAS will be ready to enter into operation in Spring 2025,” European Commission Spokesperson Christian Wigand told the Chronicle.

“The exact date will be determined by the European Commission and announced on the EES official website well in time for the start of operations.”

“At the moment we do not have a date to communicate.”

NEW SYSTEMS

The EES collects all personal data listed in a person’s travel document, as well as a facial image and fingerprints, and the date and place of entry or exit from and EU country.

Immigration authorities in European countries will use the EES to verify a person’s identity and understand whether they should be allowed to enter or stay in the EU. The data is also accessible by European law enforcement agencies.

The EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which the EU says is time consuming and does not provide reliable data on border crossings or systematic detection of “over-stayers”, meaning travellers who have exceeded the maximum duration of their authorised stay.

Under Schengen rules, non-EU citizens including British nationals after Brexit can only stay in the EU 90 days in any 180-day period before requiring a visa.

A non-EU national who overstays their 90 days can be removed from the territory, fined or detained, and even prevented from re-entering the EU in future.

The introduction of the EES will be a first step toward the EU’s new ETIAS framework, under which visa-exempt non-EU nationals will require authorisation prior to travelling to the Schengen zone.

British nationals will not require a visa to travel to EU countries but will have to register for authorisation from ETIAS and pay seven euros for a three-year visa waiver, much like the US ESTA system that has been in place for some years.

The EES and the wider ETIAS scheme are aimed at speeding up immigration procedures for non-EU nationals through automation, but many EU countries have voiced concerns that they will in fact slow them down.

Some countries believe clearance procedures could take up to four times longer than at present.

“The Government expects that initial registration on the new EES system is likely to cause border delays,” the Gibraltar Government said in the technical notice.

“Thereafter, the process should not in theory result in significant delays, as EES provides for facial recognition, meaning that people do not have to use e-Gates.”

“However, delays crossing the border remain a possibility if facial recognition facilities are not installed.”

“It should also be noted that the EES, for persons who travel in vehicles, can identify up to four passengers per vehicle, so should not in theory cause additional delays.”

“While the exact nature of EES infrastructure at the land border remains unclear, these concerns are not unique to Gibraltar.”

“Operators of other external border crossing points of the Schengen Area, including, for instance, those at the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone, are equally expecting long delays for initial registration on the system and adjusting to a new process.”

Under interim measures pending the outcome of treaty negotiations, Spanish immigration officials have allowed Red ID card holders to enter Spain without the need to have their passports stamped.

But that will likely change if the EES system comes into operation prior to a treaty being agreed.

In the technical notice, the Gibraltar Government reminded people that under Schengen rules, all non-EU Nationals including Gibraltarians and other British citizens resident in Gibraltar would need to satisfy the Schengen authorities that they meet the entry conditions when entering Spain or any other Schengen state. These include:

  • being in possession of a valid passport extending at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and which has been issued within the previous 10 years;
  • being able to justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay in the Schengen Area and having sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay in the Schengen Area and for returning to Gibraltar;
  • not having been in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in any 180-day period;
  • and, in future, being in possession of an ETIAS pre-authorisation.

“For the purposes of checking that these entry conditions are met, the Schengen authorities are obliged to conduct ‘thorough checks’, which would be systematic, both on entry to and exit from the Schengen Area,” the technical notice added.

“Therefore, should negotiations with the EU not be successfully concluded, holders of Gibraltar identity cards may be subjected to the same questioning at the land border with Spain, or at other entry points to the Schengen Area, as that which British citizens who are holders of Gibraltar civilian registration cards are currently being subjected to.”

“The outcome of this questioning could lead to refusals of entry to Spain and the Schengen Area for those who, in the eyes of the Schengen authorities, including the Spanish authorities at the land border with Spain, do not meet the entry conditions set out in the Schengen Code.”

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A British citizen, resident in Gibraltar, has a new stamp in her passport: one that says she can’t cross into Spain for three months.

Christina Davies told Jonathan Scott she was on her way to a dental appointment in La Linea, when things started getting complicated.

British resident in Gibraltar gets stamp in passport saying she can’t cross...

GBC asked the Spanish government for comment on the situation Christina described.

A spokesperson for Spain's Interior Ministry told GBC they can't comment on her particular case.

But they say the situation at the frontier is completely normal.

@DG-Truther-Videos

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Why the EU is About to Impose a Hard Border in Gibraltar

Why the EU

In a post-Brexit world, Gibraltar has always been a thorny issue, but with a new Labour government and the possible imposition of a hard border with Spain, could Starmer resolve this problem once and for all and avoid yet more Brexit chaos?

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EU confirms long-awaited launch date for Entry-Exit System

The EU’s much-delayed Entry-Exit System (EES) will finally be launched on 10 November, according to EU commissioner Ylva Johansson.

EES is a biometric system which will use digital photographs and fingerprints for registering travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, when they cross the EU’s external border. It will apply to both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travellers.

Implementation of the system has suffered a series of delays in the last couple of years, but home affairs commissioner Johansson finally named a start date for EES on a visit to the eu-LISA agency, which manages major IT infrastructure projects.

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Wonder how it's going to affect Gibraltar, because "In the technical notice, the Government repeated its often-stated position that it will reciprocate with similar biometric checks on the Gibraltar side of the border if a treaty is not reached - Gib Govt warns of looming changes at border as EU prepares for automated checks

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A ‘FAIR and balanced’ post-Brexit deal for Gibraltar is practically complete ahead of the looming November deadline, the Spanish foreign minister has declared.

“Our hand is extended, the agreement has been on the table for a long time,” said Jose Manuel Albares in an interview with Spanish radio.

The negotiations between the European Union, Spain and the United Kingdom have been languishing since an apparent April breakthrough on the ‘general political lines’ of a deal.

The current ‘wave through’ fluid frontier that has been in effect since 2021 has only been a temporary solution to what should be a strict Schengen border for the 15,000 workers who cross it every day.

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David Lammy welcomes Gibraltar delegation

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia met the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London on Wednesday September 4 for their first face-to-face meeting.

It allowed for detailed discussion on matters around the proposed treaty about the future relationship of Gibraltar with the European Union and it also touched upon preparations for a Non Negotiated Outcome.