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La LÃnea calls for guarantees as Gibraltar border agreement moves closer
Local leaders welcome historic changes but warn the town must not shoulder the economic impact alone
The proposed changes to the Gibraltar border are being described as historic, but leaders in neighbouring La Línea de la Concepción are urging caution and demanding guarantees that the town will not be left to deal with the consequences alone.Mayor Juan Franco has broadly welcomed the agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which would see the removal of the physical border fence, free movement without passport checks and Schengen controls transferred to Gibraltar’s port and airport. However, he has warned that many practical questions remain unanswered.
The deal would mark a major change at Europe’s southern border, with plans to remove the fence that has long separated Gibraltar from Spain.
Franco said the alternative could have been far worse. Without an agreement, the border might have remained open but with far more complex procedures that could have caused significant delays for the thousands of people who cross daily for work.
Even so, the La Línea mayor believes the town must be protected as the new system takes shape. “Shared prosperity cannot remain a mere declaration,” he said, calling for a strategic plan with concrete investment in housing, infrastructure and transport.
The border negotiations have been ongoing for months as Spain, the UK and the EU attempt to define Gibraltar’s post-Brexit relationship with the Schengen area. The new arrangement is expected to reshape how people and goods move across the border.
Franco warned that the changes could bring unintended consequences. One immediate concern is housing, where demand from workers linked to Gibraltar is already pushing up prices in La Línea. There are also unresolved questions over pensions for cross-border workers, the ability of local roads to cope with increased traffic and possible environmental impacts linked to higher levels of movement.
The Ayuntamiento has limited financial capacity to deal with these issues on its own. Franco noted that the council already faces considerable debt and a relatively small budget, making outside support essential.
To prepare for the changes, the Ayuntamiento has begun updating a memorandum it first drafted last September on the potential impact of the treaty. The revised document will include feedback gathered this week from representatives of 18 social organisations.
Local economic sectors are also watching developments closely. La Línea’s taxi cooperative has indicated it will oppose the possibility of Gibraltar taxis operating within the municipality, arguing that it could damage the local industry.
Despite years of negotiations, the border fence itself has remained in place while talks continued over the final shape of the agreement.
The treaty has also prompted debate in Gibraltar. Nearly 100 people recently demonstrated on the Rock, calling for the agreement to be put to a referendum before ratification and raising concerns about how Schengen entry controls would operate.
For now, officials on both sides agree that the agreement could open a new chapter for the region, even if many details still need to be clarified.
Image: wikicommons
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