Gibraltar: The New EU Territory? Analysing the Historic 2025 Agreement

Abstract

This paper analyses the transformative 2025 political agreement redefining Gibraltar’s relationship with the European Union (EU) in the post-Brexit era. Historically a British Overseas Territory with strategic significance, Gibraltar has long occupied a unique legal and geopolitical position. The new agreement, negotiated by the United Kingdom, Spain, the EU, and Gibraltar, introduces a hybrid governance model that integrates Gibraltar into the Schengen Area and a bespoke customs union while preserving British sovereignty. This arrangement eliminates physical border controls with Spain, enhances economic connectivity, and introduces dual border checks at Gibraltar’s port and airport. Drawing on historical treaties, legal frameworks, demographic data, and economic indicators, the study explores the implications of this model for sovereignty, identity, and European integration. Gibraltar’s evolving identity—marked by strong Gibraltarian, British, and European affiliations—underscores the territory’s complex sociopolitical landscape. Economically, the agreement opens new opportunities in trade, tourism, and financial services, while also presenting challenges related to sovereignty sensitivities and implementation logistics. The Gibraltar model exemplifies differentiated integration and offers a potential template for managing complex territorial arrangements in Europe. This study contributes to broader debates on flexible sovereignty, small-state resilience, and the future of EU external relations.