The UK, EU, Spain and Gibraltar Agreement: Implications for Cross-border Sports
By Ian Felice, Partner, and David Vargas-Arias, Trainee, Hassans International Law Firm Limited, Gibraltar
The UK, EU, Spain and Gibraltar Agreement, announced on 11 June 2025, whereby they had agreed the core aspects of a future formal treaty between the EU and the UK in respect of Gibraltar. The key aspects of the agreement, brought about by the departure of Gibraltar from the EU as part of the UK ‘Brexit’, are as follows:
The Agreement eliminates all checks on people and goods between Spain and Gibraltar, establishing a customs union between Gibraltar and the EU. Furthermore, Gibraltar will conduct its own checks at the airport and port, whilst Spain will perform Schengen checks on behalf of the EU.
The Agreement ensures collaboration between EU/Spanish and Gibraltar authorities in border enforcement and customs. Other areas that the Agreement addresses are taxation, the rights of frontier workers, and maintaining a "level playing field" in areas like state aid, labour rules, and environmental standards, reflecting commitments made in a framework agreement by the UK and Spain on 31 December 2020.
Additionally, the June 2025 Agreement secures full operational autonomy for the UK military facilities in Gibraltar, including the RAF base, which will continue its current operations. The UK Foreign Secretary emphasised an agreed clause protecting UK sovereignty over Gibraltar.
The full implications of the Agreement, long in the making, for sports in the region are yet to be seen. However, here are some of the potential impacts:
Should the Agreement include provisions that facilitate cross-border access for athletes and sports teams from Gibraltar to Spain and vice versa, this could lead to increased opportunities for training, competitions, and collaborations.
Teams participating in the local competitions organised by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) regularly train on Spanish territory, due to the lack of facilities in Gibraltar. The Agreement would, therefore, facilitate greater fluidity in the cross-border movement of players.
The enhanced collaboration may also lead to the establishment of joint sporting events or competitions that include participants from both Gibraltar and Spain, fostering a spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship across borders. This would also improve Spanish-Gibraltar footballing relationships as highlighted by Ivan Robba, General Secretary of the GFA.
The Agreement is also likely to boost tourism and economic activity, which can positively impact sports funding and sponsorships in Gibraltar. Increased visitor numbers may also encourage the development of more sporting events, thereby elevating the profile of local sports.
Future changes in the regulatory framework in areas, such as movement and competition rules, could impact how sports organisations operate.
As the political Agreement is drafted in Treaty form, with the ratification process said to commence in the early autumn, Gibraltar eagerly awaits further details of what will be a generational, seismic shift in cross-border relations.
It is unlikely that any area of life in Gibraltar will remain unaffected by this Treaty – the Gibraltar sporting scene will face new challenges, but also tremendous opportunities.
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