So the day has come. Today the border comes down between Gibraltar and Spain, after a decade of uncertainty about Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU, following the UK’s disastrous vote to leave the EU in 2016. Like Northern Ireland, Gibraltar was one of those details the then Conservative government couldn’t get its head round. But following the agreement to admit Gibraltar to the Schengen area, the solution was clear and there are benefits for all sides.
And this includes economic benefits. The BBC reports that Gibraltar has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, while La Línea is one of the most deprived areas in Spain.
“Unemployment, which is high across the southern Andalusia region, is close to 30% here. The removal of the border is therefore expected to have major economic benefits, facilitating the flow of people back and forth, and possibly going some way to redress the imbalance between the two territories.”
They quote La Linea’s mayor, Juan Franco, “You have to realise that for an average company in this town a third of its income is from clients in Gibraltar,” he says.
As an English church we have close connections with our fellow congregation at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Gibraltar. We know some people have concerns, particularly around security and a change to their lifestyle. Let us pray for all concerned that this historic day will facilitate a new relationship between the Territory and our great nation, the benefits of which will be shared by us all.
Read the story on the BBC here.