Institutional statement by the President of the Government of Spain at the event marking the demolition of the border fence in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz), on the occasion of the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Good morning. Allow me, first of all, to begin by acknowledging the authorities present here today. Naturally, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel; the ambassador of a friendly government, the UK ambassador; the Government Delegate; the mayors - especially the mayor of La Línea, the town where we are currently gathered; the Chief Minister, my dear Fabián; and the other authorities and mayors. I also wish to acknowledge María Jesús Montero, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance at a time when we needed to finalise certain matters regarding the Government of Spain's public finances.

Please allow me to begin, once again, by expressing my condolences and paying tribute to the victims of the fire in Los Gallardos, which has shocked Andalusia and the whole of our country over the last few days. Our thoughts are with all of them - the women and men affected, their families, and the magnificent professionals who, summer after summer, battle the fires in our country. I believe they embody the very best of public service and, of course, they have our support and all our affection. I would also like to remind the public of the importance of prevention, responsibility, and caution, because the battle against wildfires depends, logically, on each and every one of us, and, above all, on the institutions. That is why I would like to once again call for a necessary and essential agreement to address the climate emergency affecting the Iberian Peninsula and, consequently, our own country.

And now, I would like to share a few words with all of you - and with the public at large - regarding this moment and the visit we have just concluded. Earlier, the minister said that today we are making history - the good kind. And that is indeed the case, because today the last wall in continental Europe is coming down, as the president of the state-owned company Tragsa reminded us. Today we are ushering in a new era for the Campo de Gibraltar, one of shared prosperity, as the mayors - and, of course, the general public as a whole - have reminded us on many occasions. A period of coexistence and a shared future between communities that - contrary to any notion of turning their backs on one another - will now, without a doubt, finally look ahead and move forward hand in hand.

It is early days. But 2,000 years ago, the ancients placed the Pillars of Hercules here, marking - in this corner of our continent - nothing less than the boundary of the known world. The great paradox is that it was precisely here, in this very spot, that the paths opened up, expanding humanity's horizons across the Atlantic Ocean. That has always been the destiny of the Campo de Gibraltar: to be a meeting point between seas, cultures and continents. And that is the true meaning - or at least the one I would like to emphasise at today's event - that we are ushering in a new era, undoubtedly full of opportunities, for the more than 300,000 Andalusians living in the Campo de Gibraltar.

All of this takes place within a context of mutual benefit, exemplified by the more than 15,000 workers - 70% of whom are Spanish nationals - who cross the border fence daily, representing half of Gibraltar's workforce.

Someone once said that borders are the scars of history. And they are probably right, because a scar is a sign of a wound that once existed but has since healed. A wall, on the other hand, is a conscious decision to keep that wound open. I believe it is important to remember this, too, because for decades the border fence was exactly that: an open wound for the thousands of workers who crossed it every day, never knowing how long it would take to reach their jobs. Of course, this also applies to families separated by a few metres of metal. And for generations who grew up believing there was no possible solution. In fact, the Mayor of La Línea shared the story of his grandmother with me, which was deeply moving.

I believe that, of course, a solution did exist. All it took was the desire to find it, along with the commitment and political will to make it a reality.

And that is exactly what we have done. We have achieved this by finally moving beyond a way of understanding politics that confuses prudence with inaction, that mortgages the future by constantly looking to the past, and that assumes entrenched conflicts are destined to remain unresolved. We have never believed that.

We believe that politics achieves its greatest dignity when it stops merely managing inherited problems and finds the courage to resolve them. And that is precisely what we have done: governed with determination, persistently insisted that the negotiations - however difficult they may be - move forward until an agreement is reached, and insisted on dialogue, without, of course, compromising the principles each party legitimately holds. Such as the principles that define Spain's position on the Gibraltar issue - a position always aligned with the national interest and, naturally, with full respect for international law.

I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that the agreement between the European Commission and the United Kingdom, signed yesterday in Brussels, dear Ambassador, with the decisive involvement - minister - of the Kingdom of Spain, and which comes into force today, is a fair agreement that protects our interests and also more than meets the objectives we had set ourselves in the negotiations. Firstly, with regard to the free movement of people: Spain will exercise Schengen powers at the port and airport in Gibraltar, ensuring the security of the European external border and full control over visas. Secondly, regarding the free movement of goods: a customs union is being established between the European Union and Gibraltar, and indirect fiscal convergence has been achieved, putting an end to historical imbalances. And in the transport sector, Gibraltar Airport is opening to civilian traffic under a shared management model, to provide new opportunities for connectivity, tourism, investment and development across the entire Campo de Gibraltar region.

However, if there is one chapter that encapsulates the spirit of this agreement, it is the one dedicated to people - to our fellow citizens - because this has undoubtedly always been the Government of Spain's top priority. To safeguard the rights of cross-border workers who crossed this fence every day. Their unemployment benefits are guaranteed, their pensions will be protected and can be topped up to meet Spanish minimum levels. Consequently, there will no longer be any delays in the payment of benefits due to a lack of administrative coordination. Furthermore, any citizen of the European Union legally resident in Spain will be able to work as an employee in Gibraltar, without discrimination and on equal terms. And, finally, the agreement establishes a social fund to promote cohesion and solidarity between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar. It will be funded by the European Union and the United Kingdom, and will also make a decisive contribution to reducing inequalities on both sides of this region, through specific measures in training and employment, offering opportunities to the young people of this region.

All in all, I think a great many people have helped to make this historic day a reality. I would, of course, like to acknowledge the work of the European Commission - in particular Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič - who has done a commendable job, and whom I would also like to acknowledge here. To the various governments, dear Ambassador of the United Kingdom, but I would like to single out the current Prime Minister, Starmer, because it is also thanks to his leadership that this agreement, in particular, has been made possible. Of course, to the Government of Spain and, in particular, to Minister Albares. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Chief Minister Fabián Picardo in securing this important agreement for everyone. I would also like to highlight - as some mayors have reminded me, of course - the work of the State law enforcement forces and agencies, who have been on duty day in, day out, and who have our full recognition, support and appreciation for their work in guaranteeing the rights of our fellow citizens. And, of course, I would like to acknowledge the work of the mayors of La Línea de la Concepción, San Roque, Algeciras, Castellar de la Frontera, Tarifa, Jimena de la Frontera, Los Barrios and San Martín del Tesorillo, and, of course, also the president of the Association of Municipalities. To all of them - as well as to the social partners, trade unions, and business organisations present here - I want to express my gratitude for your contributions, your initiatives, and that spirit of dialogue which has undoubtedly played a positive role in forging this important, historic agreement.

I shall conclude my speech by saying, as I mentioned at the beginning, that today we regard the Pillars of Hercules not as the boundary of the known world, but as a gateway to new horizons. That is the calling of today's Spain: a country that looks out at the world, aware that boundaries exist only to be overcome, and that conflicts are not meant to be managed indefinitely, but to be resolved. I believe that is the best tribute we can pay to good politics - the kind we are championing and putting into practice today. And that is also the purpose of this agreement: to dare to transform a place of division into a place of shared prosperity. It is about embarking on a path to heal a wound spanning no less than three centuries - a wound suffered, more than anyone, by the people of this region. Today, the Campo de Gibraltar is coming to terms with its true destiny: to be a bridge and not a barrier; to be a horizon and not a border; to be the master of its own destiny, and never again a victim of history. In short, today's removal of the fence marks the beginning of a new chapter full of opportunities and hope for this region.

And now, if I may, I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about the excitement sparked yesterday by the Spanish national football team. Because not only in this region, but across the whole country, the dream of becoming world champions once again this Sunday is within reach. So thank you to our team for getting us all fired up, for making us dream, and let's hope - fingers crossed - that the second star is just around the corner. I have no doubt we will achieve it this Sunday. So, congratulations to everyone. Let's go.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)