EU members greenlight Gib treaty and set July 15 for provisional application

The UK/EU treaty on Gibraltar will enter into provisional operation on July 15, the European Council said on Wednesday after European ambassadors gave a green light to the deal.

The Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives agreed on Wednesday the texts of the agreement and decisions of signature and provisional application.

“The texts will be formally adopted as soon as the checks of the Council lawyer-linguists are concluded,” the Council said in statement.

“The Agreement is expected to enter into provisional application on 15 July 2026.”

In making the announcement, the Council noted that the main objective of the agreement “is to secure the future prosperity of the whole region”.

“This objective will be reached by removing all physical barriers on persons and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar, while fully safeguarding Schengen, the EU's Single Market, and its Customs Union,” it said.

The announcement was welcomed by Christina Rafti, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU. Cyprus currently holds the EU presidency.

“The Cyprus presidency has worked diligently on this issue,” she said.

“This is a milestone for EU-UK relations and it paves the way for a stronger, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking partnership.”

“This agreement will be beneficial for the people in the region and for the EU as a whole.”

The announcement was also welcomed by the Gibraltar Government, which also said the new start date was “very welcome”.

“The new date gives both certainty and breathing space,” No.6 Convent Place said.

“It gives certainty of the date by which the new procedures will come into effect.”

“It also gives businesses in Gibraltar, that have to adapt to new Customs procedures, to have more time to adapt and perfect the new arrangements.”

“Additionally, the Government has been assured that the new European Entry/Exit System, which comes into effect on 10th April, will not apply to any Gibraltar residents, whatever colour of Civilian Registration Card they may have.”

The Government of Gibraltar had ensured that all matters under its responsibility, both legal and in terms of physical infrastructure, were ready in time for April 10, the initial target date for provisional implementation.

The aim was to ensure “it could never be said we were delaying provisional application”.

The new timeline will provide citizens and traders greater opportunity to settle into the new arrangements.

The EU’s “full and unanimous approval” of the arrangements represents “a decisive and important step forward” in the process, No.6 said.

“This collective endorsement provides added certainty and authority to the agreed framework, and reflects a shared commitment across the European Union to bringing these new arrangements into effect in a lasting and orderly way,” it added.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said the confirmation gave Gibraltar the “key elements of certainty and time”.

“I understand the disquiet caused in recent weeks has not been from the content of the treaty but by the absence of sufficiently clear timelines and the shortness of the timelines we had therefore been forced to work to,” he said.

“For this reason, the Government has been forced to work to ensure that Gibraltar would be ready, legally, physically and operationally, for the 10 April EES deadline.”

“Throughout that period, we shared information at every stage as soon as it was properly possible to do so.”

“This additional time will also now help businesses to refine the new customs arrangements and give the public greater reassurance as we move towards implementation.”

“Throughout, the Government has sought to be as forthcoming as possible with all stakeholders, providing information earlier and in greater detail than any other party to the agreement.”

“I am very happy that we have now got unanimous support for the treaty from the EU 27.”

“I am also very happy we can give our traders the additional time they wanted and our people the certainty they sought.”

“Coupled with guarantees about EES exemption for Gibraltar residents at the Gibraltar frontier with Spain, this is a very, very positive development.”

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