Exhibition to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Reopening of the Frontier - 659/2025

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia today officially opened a new exhibition at the John Macintosh Hall to mark the 40th anniversary of the full opening of the land frontier with Spain. The exhibition by the Gibraltar National Archives details the profound societal, cultural, economic and political impacts of this historic event, which continue to resonate as Gibraltar shapes its future relationship with the European Union.

The exhibition charts the turbulent history of the border, which has long served as a barometer of relations between Gibraltar and Spain. It recalls how successive generations of Gibraltarians endured restrictions, sanctions and, from 1969, the complete closure imposed by the Franco dictatorship. This blockade lasted 16 years, continuing even after Franco's death, and became one of the defining experiences in the development of Gibraltar's modern identity.

The frontier finally reopened fully in February 1985, against the backdrop of Spain's desire to join the European Economic Community. Dr Garcia noted that this opening was "clouded by political controversy" because it was tied to sovereignty discussions under the Lisbon and Brussels Agreements, rather than being viewed as an act of democratic renewal.

The exhibition is divided into four sections:
• Section One examines the UK and Spanish positions on the frontier and the history of cross-frontier workers.
• Section Two covers the 1969 closure and its impact on Gibraltar and the surrounding region.
• Section Three explains the diplomatic background leading to the frontier's full reopening in 1985.
• Section Four looks at the present context of Gibraltar's departure from the EU and this year's historic political agreement for Gibraltar's future relationship with the bloc.

The Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon Dr Joseph Garcia, said:
*"The closure of the border had profound consequences in Gibraltar and the surrounding area. It was an inhuman act of coercion designed to bring Gibraltar to its knees. However, Franco's plan failed and the Gibraltarians, with the support of the United Kingdom, bravely resisted whatever the dictator threw at them. The closure proved to be a nation-building moment, which together with other events like the wartime evacuation of civilians, was to cement the sense of identity of the people of Gibraltar further still.

I want to thank Archivist Gerard Wood and his team, and everyone who has worked to bring together rare and previously unseen material for this very special exhibition."*

The exhibition at the John Macintosh Hall will be open to the public from 15th to 26th September 2025. Opening times are 9:00am to 4:15pm Monday to Friday, and admission is free.

ENDS