Britain this week raised the issue of disproportionate border checks
and delays “at the highest level” with the Spanish Government.
This was stated in Parliament yesterday afternoon by Europe Minister David Liddington who was responding to a question in an emergency debate instigated by the all party Gibraltar group.
This was stated in Parliament yesterday afternoon by Europe Minister David Liddington who was responding to a question in an emergency debate instigated by the all party Gibraltar group.
Mr Liddington made clear it had not been raised with the Spanish
Ambassador because it had been raised at a higher level directly with
the Spanish Government although officials later declined to say exactly
who this referred to. It was raised outside of the EU foreign ministers’
meeting, it was confirmed. The fact that the queues had not been
imposed yesterday was not missed by anyone.
In Parliament Mr Liddington noted that this last weekend significant delays had occurred at the border of 45 minutes to six hours as a result of the more rigorous checks by the Guardia Civil on cars leaving the Rock. He also noted the reduced delays yesterday.
“Spain has justified the more rigorous checks as being anti-tobacco smuggling operations between Gibraltar and Spain. Tobacco smuggling does occur between Gibraltar and Spain. However the Spanish authorities have not provided the Gibraltar authorities with evidence that in this case increased checks were required.” Mr Liddington noted that the delays come at a time of increased tension resulting from the fishing dispute over Spanish fishing rights in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
The Europe Minister reported that the view in Gibraltar is that the delays are intended to increase pressure on Gibraltar to resolve the fishing dispute. He also noted that both Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the ASCTEG, the Spanish workers association, had criticised the delays.
PROTEST
Disruption and border queues, he said, have an effect on the wellbeing and prosperity of communities on both sides of the border especially the several thousand Spanish workers. “The (UK) government position is that these delays are unacceptable and have no place at a border between EU partners,” he said adding that the issue had been raised over the weekend at a very high level with the Spanish Government. It will also be protested formally to the local Guardia Civil, he added.
Mr Liddington said the UK would continue to monitor the situation closely and “take whatever appropriate action is necessary to support the free movement of people between Gibraltar and Spain.”
WATERS ‘ARE BRITISH’
Eleanor Laing, the MP with special MOD responsibility including Gibraltar said that the local management of the Guardia Civil in La Linea and Algeciras were doing whatever they wish “not only on the border but by making incursions at sea in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters whenever they wish to do so.” She said this was done in a way deliberately designed to make life difficult for the people of Gibraltar and their government.
Mr Liddington said that where there might be a special need for legitimate checks at the border he would expect the Spanish authorities to be open with the Gibraltar authorities about these. “That has not been the case hitherto in this instance.”
On maritime incursions Mr Liddington said that that Britain is “absolutely confident” in its sovereignty over British Territorial waters.
“That is why the Royal Navy challenges Guardia Civil and other Spanish vessels whenever they make unlawful maritime incursions,” he said adding that this is backed up with diplomatic protests to the Spanish Government about all unlawful incursions.
“Those challenges and protests make clear that such incursions are an unacceptable violation of British sovereignty,” said Mr Liddington.
‘JOINT SOVEREIGNTY PLAN WAS BETRAYAL’
Emma Reynolds MP the Labour shadow for Mr Liddington invited a retort when she raised the Gibraltar issue and echoed the sentiment that the delays at the border were unacceptable.
She asked what was being done to investigate the Spanish action and also what pressure was being exerted to get Spain to return to the trilateral forum.
Mr Liddington replied that the delays got in the way of sensible economic relations between Gibraltar and its neighbouring Campo. Unjustified border queues will, he said, be raised on each occasion at the appropriate level. He added that Gibraltar itself regularly co-operates with Spain in tackling tobacco smuggling and other forms of criminal activity and that is the sort of sensible co-operation UK wants to see.
Expressing regret that the current Spanish government refuses to take part in trilateral talks given that it has served Gibraltar, Spain and the UK well he said that UK would like to see “some kind of equivalent collaborative system established.”
Taking up Miss Reynold’s remark on support for British sovereignty over Gibraltar and respecting the rights of the people of Gibraltar Mr Liddington said he was grateful for this.
“I particularly welcome this if it does indeed mark a break with the proposals for shared sovereignty and betrayal of the people of Gibraltar which the Labour party supported when they were in government.” The remark drew great cheers.
CIVILISED
Simon Hughes, Liberal MP said Spain should do the civilised thing which is to work with Gibraltar when there are issues at the border given that we are in the EU and not the third world.
Mr Liddington responded saying this is often on the agenda in discussions between the British and Spanish side. But he also pointed out that the Spanish Prime Minister has publicly stated that he does not want the argument over Gibraltar to get in the way of a mutual bilateral relationship with the UK.
“I hope that we can very much get back to the sort of practical local level cooperation (that Mr Hughes referred to).”
Angus McNeil MP urged that the Spanish Ambassador should be called in each time there is a long queue and be kept waiting for five hours himself. Meanwhile Denis McShane former Europe Minister urged “less queue, queue and more jaw, jaw”.
Mr Liddington however rejected Mr McShane’s description of Gibraltar as a nightmare. “I don’t think Gibraltar is a nightmare. It is a thriving and now very prosperous community where there are entrepreneurial people who want good relations with Spain but also want their democratic rights respected and want to remain British.”
Iain Paisley MP said that the Prime Minster should tell Spain to get its arms off Gibraltar “it’s not going their way.”
Source: UK raised border queues ‘at the highest level’ with Spain, Liddington reassures Parliament
In Parliament Mr Liddington noted that this last weekend significant delays had occurred at the border of 45 minutes to six hours as a result of the more rigorous checks by the Guardia Civil on cars leaving the Rock. He also noted the reduced delays yesterday.
“Spain has justified the more rigorous checks as being anti-tobacco smuggling operations between Gibraltar and Spain. Tobacco smuggling does occur between Gibraltar and Spain. However the Spanish authorities have not provided the Gibraltar authorities with evidence that in this case increased checks were required.” Mr Liddington noted that the delays come at a time of increased tension resulting from the fishing dispute over Spanish fishing rights in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
The Europe Minister reported that the view in Gibraltar is that the delays are intended to increase pressure on Gibraltar to resolve the fishing dispute. He also noted that both Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the ASCTEG, the Spanish workers association, had criticised the delays.
PROTEST
Disruption and border queues, he said, have an effect on the wellbeing and prosperity of communities on both sides of the border especially the several thousand Spanish workers. “The (UK) government position is that these delays are unacceptable and have no place at a border between EU partners,” he said adding that the issue had been raised over the weekend at a very high level with the Spanish Government. It will also be protested formally to the local Guardia Civil, he added.
Mr Liddington said the UK would continue to monitor the situation closely and “take whatever appropriate action is necessary to support the free movement of people between Gibraltar and Spain.”
WATERS ‘ARE BRITISH’
Eleanor Laing, the MP with special MOD responsibility including Gibraltar said that the local management of the Guardia Civil in La Linea and Algeciras were doing whatever they wish “not only on the border but by making incursions at sea in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters whenever they wish to do so.” She said this was done in a way deliberately designed to make life difficult for the people of Gibraltar and their government.
Mr Liddington said that where there might be a special need for legitimate checks at the border he would expect the Spanish authorities to be open with the Gibraltar authorities about these. “That has not been the case hitherto in this instance.”
On maritime incursions Mr Liddington said that that Britain is “absolutely confident” in its sovereignty over British Territorial waters.
“That is why the Royal Navy challenges Guardia Civil and other Spanish vessels whenever they make unlawful maritime incursions,” he said adding that this is backed up with diplomatic protests to the Spanish Government about all unlawful incursions.
“Those challenges and protests make clear that such incursions are an unacceptable violation of British sovereignty,” said Mr Liddington.
‘JOINT SOVEREIGNTY PLAN WAS BETRAYAL’
Emma Reynolds MP the Labour shadow for Mr Liddington invited a retort when she raised the Gibraltar issue and echoed the sentiment that the delays at the border were unacceptable.
She asked what was being done to investigate the Spanish action and also what pressure was being exerted to get Spain to return to the trilateral forum.
Mr Liddington replied that the delays got in the way of sensible economic relations between Gibraltar and its neighbouring Campo. Unjustified border queues will, he said, be raised on each occasion at the appropriate level. He added that Gibraltar itself regularly co-operates with Spain in tackling tobacco smuggling and other forms of criminal activity and that is the sort of sensible co-operation UK wants to see.
Expressing regret that the current Spanish government refuses to take part in trilateral talks given that it has served Gibraltar, Spain and the UK well he said that UK would like to see “some kind of equivalent collaborative system established.”
Taking up Miss Reynold’s remark on support for British sovereignty over Gibraltar and respecting the rights of the people of Gibraltar Mr Liddington said he was grateful for this.
“I particularly welcome this if it does indeed mark a break with the proposals for shared sovereignty and betrayal of the people of Gibraltar which the Labour party supported when they were in government.” The remark drew great cheers.
CIVILISED
Simon Hughes, Liberal MP said Spain should do the civilised thing which is to work with Gibraltar when there are issues at the border given that we are in the EU and not the third world.
Mr Liddington responded saying this is often on the agenda in discussions between the British and Spanish side. But he also pointed out that the Spanish Prime Minister has publicly stated that he does not want the argument over Gibraltar to get in the way of a mutual bilateral relationship with the UK.
“I hope that we can very much get back to the sort of practical local level cooperation (that Mr Hughes referred to).”
Angus McNeil MP urged that the Spanish Ambassador should be called in each time there is a long queue and be kept waiting for five hours himself. Meanwhile Denis McShane former Europe Minister urged “less queue, queue and more jaw, jaw”.
Mr Liddington however rejected Mr McShane’s description of Gibraltar as a nightmare. “I don’t think Gibraltar is a nightmare. It is a thriving and now very prosperous community where there are entrepreneurial people who want good relations with Spain but also want their democratic rights respected and want to remain British.”
Iain Paisley MP said that the Prime Minster should tell Spain to get its arms off Gibraltar “it’s not going their way.”
Source: UK raised border queues ‘at the highest level’ with Spain, Liddington reassures Parliament
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