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People living in Gibraltar will be exempt from the new European Entry-Exit System (EES), officials have confirmed, but work is still needed at the border to get ready for the EU’s April deadline. Gibraltar has been holding technical talks with Spain to remove some existing border infrastructure and set up temporary solutions until the full system is up and running.

 

The rollout of the European Border and Coastal Security (EBCS) system began last October, but the La Línea-Gibraltar crossing has special challenges. Until a future treaty allows Gibraltar to join the Schengen Area, the border fence is operating under a temporary arrangement, letting Gibraltarians and EU citizens pass through with flexible controls.

 

The Gibraltar Government says these temporary changes are designed to keep people moving smoothly while permanent infrastructure is built. “If we didn’t do this, the alternative would be full EES rules at the border,” the Government explained. “That would mean collecting biometric data, like facial recognition and fingerprints, and could cause long delays.”

 

For thousands of people in La Línea de la Concepción, daily life depends on the border. Cross-border workers rely on quick, predictable passage to get to their jobs in Gibraltar. The Ayuntamiento is keeping a close eye on the works, while also looking ahead to what will happen to land now used by Spanish customs and security services. Plans are already being discussed to turn these areas into new urban and economic projects.

 

Meanwhile, the Gibraltar Government’s Council of Ministers is reviewing the technical and legal details of this temporary phase. Officials say no major changes to the plan are expected and that the work should give enough time until the treaty is finalised. Spanish authorities are working to have the EES fully operational across the EU by April, meaning these interim measures are essential at this sensitive crossing.

For locals and workers in the Campo de Gibraltar region, the La Línea-Gibraltar border remains one of southern Europe’s trickiest points.

 

For now, keeping the border flowing smoothly is the priority, while bigger changes are planned in the coming months.

 

 

Image: wikicommons