Entities Gibraltar Spain Current shape 1909 | Established 1704 (de facto) Length 1,200 m | |
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Treaties Treaty of Utrecht, Gibraltar Airport Agreement | ||
The Gibraltar–Spain border is the international boundary between the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and Spain. It is also referred to in Spanish: as La frontera de Gibraltar (The frontier of Gibraltar) or simply as The Frontier.
Contents
The border runs east-west for a total of 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) separating Gibraltar from the neighbouring Spanish municipality of La Línea de la Concepción. Since the United Kingdom is outside the European Union's Schengen Area, Gibraltar is too and therefore, identity checks are required to cross the border.
History
The Lines of Contravallation of Gibraltar were built by Spain in 1730 to isolate Gibraltar, the lines were north of the isthmus linking Spain with Gibraltar. The neutral zone between Gibraltar and Spain has since been built on by Spain. These lines were the first form of a border between Gibraltar and Spain.
During the Peninsular War in the early 19th century, Spain had initially been allied to France while trying to invade Portugal, but France shortly after turned on its ally, Spain. Forcing the Spanish to ally itself with Great Britain and Portugal against Napoleonic France to regain control of Spain from the French, the Lines of Contravallation of Gibraltar were blown up by the Gibraltar Commanding Royal Engineer Charles Holloway who with permission from Spain began to blast an opening through them on 14 February 1810 to avoid them falling into the hands of the approaching French. Gibraltar, supported by La Linea, became an important base for Spanish fighters against Napoleon's troops. Currently, all that remains of the Lines of Contravallation of Gibraltar are the Ruins of Fort St. Barbara, which is in a recovery phase, while the Fort San Felipe remnants have appeared recently. Fort San Carlos does not seem to have left preserved evidence.
In 1909 Britain was aware of the need to reduce the number of sentries and built a fence 7 ft (c. 2m) high, however there was suspicion about the motives for the fence.
Spanish dictator Francisco Franco ordered the closure of the border gate on June 8, 1969, in response to the Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969. The border was not fully reopened until February 1985.
In 2010, the People's Party mayor of La Línea, Alejandro Sanchez, attempted to impose a so-called "congestion charge" on people entering or leaving Gibraltar, despite having been told by the Spanish Government that such a charge would be a breach of national and international EU law.
In 2013, due to growing tensions between Gibraltar (backed by Britain) and Spain, the Spanish border control began to search every passing vehicle, creating queues on both sides of the border which were several hours long.
Customs and identity checks
Customs and identity checks on the Spanish side of the border are carried out by the Spanish Civil Guard and the Spanish National Police. Customs and identity checks on the Gibraltar side of the border are carried out by HM Customs Gibraltar and the Royal Gibraltar Police.
Maritime borders
The Gibraltar Port Authority controls the territorial waters of Gibraltar that border Spain's.