Gibraltar Seeks Schengen Membership to Preserve Open Border with Spain Post-Brexit

"We’ve talked about that before Brexit," said Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, in an interview with le Rocher, thus alluding to the possibility of Gibraltar joining the Schengen area.

According to the minister, the United Kingdom has never expressed its willingness to join the Schengen area. However, he is convinced that if Gibraltar marks its entry into this area, "it would be positive." "Does it make sense for the EU that 2.5 square miles at the southern tip of the peninsula are not accessible to European citizens? I don’t think so," he hinted. For him, crossing the border without incident is in the interest of the enclave and its 30,000 inhabitants, as well as the Spaniards who are employed there.

About 14,000 workers, mostly Spaniards, but also nationals of all nationalities established in Spain, cross the border every day to reach Gibraltar due to the many job opportunities available in this region.

"Look at other micro-states in Europe, they benefit from freedom of movement in Schengen, even if they are not fully integrated into the information exchange system. All of this will be taken into account in the negotiations that are about to begin," Fabian Picardo reassured.