Spain allocates 2m Euros emergency funding for temporary frontier infrastructure

The Spanish Government has allocated two million euros in emergency funding to set up new temporary infrastructure at the frontier.

This is to ensure there's an operational system in place whether or not the treaty is ready for implementation by the 10th April, when the new Electronic Entry-Exit System comes into place across the Schengen area.

GBC has put questions to the Government as to whether the bridging measures at the frontier would continue if the EES is in force. We are awaiting answers.

Regarding the target implementation date, a spokesperson insisted that Gibraltar will be ready for provisional application of the treaty by then.

However, they said the Chief Minister's already indicated international events could delay essential processes external to Gibraltar - and that this might end up pushing back the date.

In a statement, the Spanish Treasury says the new electronic European Entry-Exit System has to be operational at every external Schengen frontier by the 10th April.

The UK-EU treaty for Gibraltar would eliminate checks at the land border between Spain and the Rock.

However, if it’s not ready to be implemented by that target date of the 10th April, Spain says it must instead have the EES operational to carry out the frontier controls necessary for an external Schengen frontier.

The Treasury says given this, the General Secretariat for the European Union wrote to the Directorate General of State Assets to call for the awarding of a contract for temporary works.

These would include: connections with existing buildings, the construction of a temporary building, works inside the airport, the demolition of the fence, and works to divert commercial traffic.

Spain says the emergency contract has been awarded due to an “exceptional and unforeseen situation”, which has made it necessary to act immediately in the interest of national security.

It says this is because of the removal of the frontier fence and the “impossibility” of controlling the flow of people and goods through the airport if there is no infrastructure in place.