Fredbargate

‘One can understand Gibraltar’s position,’ Dastis says

The challenges faced by La Linea and the wider Campo de Gibraltar make it “understandable” that Gibraltarians reject Spanish approaches on sovereignty, even if saying it sounds like “heresy”, Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alfonso Dastis, said this week.

In a frank response to a question during a conference in Madrid’s Club Siglo XXI on Thursday, Sr Dastis reflected on his recent visit to the Campo, where he heard at first hand the difficulties with unemployment and crime faced by communities in the area, in particular La Linea.

“One can understand Gibraltar,” he said, according to Europa Press news agency.

“Look at what we have on the other side of the fence.”

He said Spain would never drop its claim over Gibraltar or accept “the existence of a colony in the 21st century”, but insisted it would neither “go to war [over the Rock] or close the border”.

‘One can understand Gibraltar’s position,’ Dastis says – Gibraltar Chronicle

Fredbargate

The EU Council has dodged a question on the controversial Spanish veto over the application of any future UK/EU trade deal to Gibraltar in the European Parliament.

The issue was probed by Italian MEP Isabella De Monte, who tabled a written question before the EU Parliament.
She questioned the legal basis on which Spain had been granted a special right of ‘veto’ or at least a differentiated right in comparison with all the other EU Member States.

“It is not for the Council to provide legal opinions,” was the response from the Council

EU council ducks thorny veto question – Gibraltar Chronicle

Fredbargate

Dr Maria Mut Bosque, a lecturer at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, delivered a talk focusing on the political, legal and social parallels and differences between Gibraltar and Catalonia.

She claimed that the Spanish Government uses Gibraltar as a smokescreen in order to hide corruption, political, territorial and economic problems.

Spain used Gibraltar ‘as a smokescreen’, Catalan academic says – Gibraltar Chronicle

Fredbargate

La Linea wants to compete with Gibraltar's businesses

The La Linea council led by mayor Juan Franco are working on a plan of action to equate facilities in La Linea with those in Gibraltar, such as in financial services and other Gibraltar successes, so that it can grab some of the business that Gibraltar benefits from.

Fredbargate

https://www.yourgibraltartv.com/soci...-local-economy

“Around £30,000,000 is estimated to go to HM Government of Gibraltar in tax revenue, annually from the building occupants. When integrated with local spending multipliers and displacement ratios, this suggests that WTC Gibraltar contributes £65,000,000 annually to the Gibraltar economy

Fredbargate

MOD plan to use South Mole for giant aircraft carriers

The UK government is serious about making Gibraltar a port of use for the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, and other similar ships in her class.

the UK's Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin, said in Parliament last week that the Royal Navy continues to review ports that would be accessible to the new class of aircraft carriers, adding that "this process includes the infrastructure requirements at South Mole in Gibraltar.”

MOD plan to use South Mole for giant aircraft carriers

HMS DRAGON is set to arrive in the Naval Base on Tuesday 24th October.

DRAGON will be conducting a routine port visit, continuing the strong ties between the Royal Navy and Gibraltar and building on recent visits by HMS DIAMOND, HMS PEMBROKE and HMS OCEAN, as well as RFA TIDESPRING and RFA WAVE KNIGHT.

https://www.yourgibraltartv.com/soci...e-in-gibraltar

Fredbargate

Spain blocks Gibraltar sports body from joining European federation

December 13, 2017

The Gibraltar Rugby Football Union’s (GRFU) eight-year tussle to join the sport’s European governing body, Rugby Europe, suffered another blow last week following Spanish interjection.

Spain blocks Gibraltar sports body from joining European federation

Groundhog Day?

Fredbargate

Today (14th December) sees the 35th Anniversary of the Opening of the Frontier. The decision to end the thirteen year blockade of Gibraltar to strangle its economy taken by the Spanish Dictator General Franco in 1969, was put into effect by the PSOE.

35th Anniversary of the Opening of the Frontier

dougal03

As a British national who has chosen to live in Spain I have not seen any animosity between different nations or cultures anytime when visiting Gib.over the last 30 years.So let's hope the frontera remains open,a benefit to both Spain & the residents of "the Rock" I would think.

Fredbargate

But first, the SNP’s Joanna Cherry called for a firm commitment to include Gibraltar in any transitional arrangements, given Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy’s request to the EU that it applies the Clause 24 veto.

GBC - Gibraltar News - GBC TV and Radio Gibraltar

Some people considered that the Irish border would be a sticking point in the brexit negotiations

dougal03

Today on PMQ's Mrs.May answered on a question about Gibraltar saying the same old thing that the Govn.would support the Colony.When push comes to shove though her words could be as worthless as when she promised we,British Nationals who have lived abroad over 15 years,would get our ability to vote reinstated at the next election.Not done,still waiting.

Fredbargate

20/12/17
The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister have been in direct contact overnight with UK Ministers, officials and Members of Parliament on the anticipated publication of the European Union’s Recommendations for a Council Decision earlier today.
The Government therefore welcome the assurances given by the Prime Minister to the House of Commons, on Monday and today, about the inclusion of Gibraltar in the negotiations for both the transitional period and the future agreement as we prepare to leave the European Union.
The Prime Minister gave these assurances both before and after the publication by the Commission of the new Recommendation for an EU Council Decision which set out their proposed negotiating directives for this new phase of the process.

FULL TEXT of Gibraltar Government statement on latest Brexit news:



Bob Neill:- Prime Ministers question time

Fredbargate

COMMENTS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALL PARTY GIBRALTAR GROUP IN PARLIAMENT, BOB NEILL, DURING DEBATE IN COMMONS LAST NIGHT:

Finally, I come to new clause 56, on Gibraltar, which I signed, but which stands in the names of SNP Members and others across the House. It has had cross-party support, for which I am grateful. I declare my interest as the chair of the all-party group on Gibraltar. I welcome the Government’s statement, both from Ministers today and from the Prime Minister earlier, of their full commitment to Gibraltar

Full article:-
GBC - Gibraltar News - GBC TV and Radio Gibraltar

MikeJ

Another academic opinion on the legality of Gibraltar

https://www.academia.edu/35658479/Gi...e_Prescription

Fredbargate

Concern in Andalucia about Brexit's negative effects leads to Andalusian president meeting Picardo

Spanish regions, including Andalucia, have been expressing concern about the negative effects that could flow from Brexit, and most importantly the region's relationship with Gibraltar. Hence, it is not surprising that there is to be a meeting next week between the Andalusian president Susana Diaz and the Gibraltar chief minister Fabian Picardo.

Full article :- Concern in Andalucia about Brexit's negative effects leads to Andalusian president meeting Picardo

Further to this I spotted one of our cleaners photographing a passport this morning.
On questioning her and her co-worker they informed me that they had both for the first time in their lives acquired passports in the hope that these will allow them to cross the frontier and keep their jobs after brexit.