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Workers dismantle the Spanish border checkpoint that separated Spain and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, on July 6 (local time). / AP, Yonhap News.

Following years of negotiations since Brexit (the U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU), the United Kingdom and the European Union officially signed a landmark treaty on July 14 (local time) to ease border restrictions in Gibraltar, AP and Reuters reported.

With the physical barrier separating Spain's southern tip and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar officially dismantled as of midnight, people can now travel freely between the two regions.

Gibraltar, a strategic territory of about 38,000 people located on Spain's southern tip, borders Spain. When the U.K. left the EU in 2020, the status of travel and trade between Gibraltar and the EU was left unresolved, raising concerns over tightened border controls.

After round after round of negotiations, the U.K. and the EU reached an agreement that effectively brings Gibraltar into the Schengen free-movement zone.

The deal secures freedom of movement for local residents and roughly 15,000 Spanish workers who cross the border daily to commute to Gibraltar, AP reported.

Under the agreement, border checks at airports and ports will be conducted jointly by British and Spanish border guards. This joint checkpoint model is similar to the system used for the Eurostar rail line connecting London and Paris.

However, travelers entering Gibraltar from non-U.K. countries must comply with the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) implemented across Europe.

Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, but Spain continues to claim sovereignty over the territory. Officials from both countries made it clear that dismantling the border fence does not resolve the historical dispute or signify any change in Gibraltar's sovereign status.

                                                                                                          Lee Jeong-eun