BREAKING: Confusion over Gibraltar frontier continues after opening is delayed

GIBRALTARIANS might have to wait to enter Spain for the first time in nearly three months.

The latest update from the Ministry of the Interior suggests that the opening of the frontier to Gibraltar is ‘in process’.

On June 8 the Spanish Ministry of the Interior and the Policia Nacional in La Linea said the frontier would open on June 8.

It all started with a news report in the Spanish newspaper El Pais on June 8, and the news was confirmed by a Ministry of the Interior source to the Gibraltar Chronicle.

At the June 8 morning weekly press briefing, the Deputy Chief Minister was unaware of the news, having been told on June 7 it would have to wait until July 1.

All of Andalusia entered Phase 3 of the release from lockdown caused by COVID-19, allowing greater freedom of movement.

It means Andalusians can now travel all over the region without fear of being fined.

Many Gibraltarians have houses and family in the surrounding area so they are waiting for the go-ahead to enter Spain.

Confusing messages

The official source was Daniel Campos De Diego, Director of Communications Spanish Ministry of the Interior, who said that access to Spain had only been limited by the state of emergency in Spain.

“None of our restrictive frontier measures applied during the State of Emergency related to the border between Gibraltar and Spain,” Campos De Diego told The Olive Press.

“Therefore, there is no new measure in this respect.

“What is occurring is that people now have more freedom of movement as the province of Cadiz enters phase three.

“This also affects the transit of Gibraltarians into the Cadiz province.”

Despite the official confirmation there were reports from the ground on June 8 that Gibraltar pedestrians and cars were not being allowed into Spain.

On June 9, the Policia Nacional said that nothing had changed and Gibraltarians could only go over to Spain for work or if they lived there officially.

“The position as we understand it is as stated by the Ministry of the Interior to the press and directly to us,” the Gibraltar Government told The Olive Press.

“We are seeking further clarification as to when the change will be implemented.”