Fredbargate

The Ohio class ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska has made a very unusual stop in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The Navy took the equally unusual step of publicly announcing the submarine's arrival there today. This is the latest in a string of curiously public movements of members of the Navy's 'boomer' fleet, which typically conduct their deterrent patrols loaded with nuclear-armed Trident ballistic missiles with few, if any, port visits and even less fanfare.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...p-in-gibraltar

On a rather foggy morning

Fredbargate

Now where do who stand? :-From September 28, 2021, the GB sticker or magnet that’s placed on the back of your car will no longer be valid.

Instead, you’ll need a ‘UK’ sticker, while those with ‘GB’ on their number plate will now also need a sticker or order a new number plate with the UK designation.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/gb-car-sti...153429257.html

DLC

If anything will stop Irish unification, making everyone change their car stickers or number plate will do it.

Fredbargate

Very busy in Gibraltar port this morning
Bottom centre of this screen grab are 15 boats in the centre of which is HMS Prince of Wales (R09) surrounded by support vessels and tugs







At the bottom in the harbour a Nuke belived to be HMS Artful

So we have Surface, Air and Underwater

Fredbargate

Gib hotels ‘at full capacity’

Wizz Air has cancelled all Gibraltar flights to Luton this August in a bid to meet higher demand in other European countries, but the Minister for Tourism has played down the development stating
“Gibraltar is already full.”
Vijay Daryanani said Gibraltar is turning business away due to a surge in tourism.
Gibraltar’s place in the ‘Green’ travel list has seen tourists flock to the Rock, resulting in packed hotels, bars and restaurants.
With Gibraltar to capacity, Mr Daryanani said the airline has decided to focus on other European destinations.

SanNico

They did the same for Castellon to Luton last week. Rather disappointing, but I would say it's down to lack of customers rather than focussing on other destinations. Last year I had quite a few flights cancelled by them 15 days prior to departure. During normal times I prefer them to the other budget airlines as there's no pretence. It looks cheap, feels cheap and it's cheap.

EU.flag

"The State Secretary for the European Union in the Spanish Foreign Ministry has met with Campo Mayors today to assure them the region remains a priority for the Spanish Government.

Juan Gonzalez Barba has made the visit ahead of the European Commission publishing a draft mandate for the negotiation of the EU / UK Treaty next week . The journey so far, he said, has not been easy and it has taken some convincing for the EU to get to this position.

Two of the mayors briefed took to social media to announce that pending a treaty, the Spanish Foreign Office aims to remove frontier controls between Gibraltar and Spain early next year."

Fredbargate

Gibraltar is set to be included within an NHS system that will provide electronic proof of vaccination - a system that the UK is working to ensure is recognised by other European countries, as part of the anticipated "vaccine passport" scheme.

missile

EU launches power grab against Gibraltar (msn.com)

EU.flag

Lets not jump on tabloid press rubbish.
Best to first have read full draft document, it wouldn't be surprising that Spain wants to insert some kind of authority over Gib, its a negation not a war.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pres.../en/ip_21_3747

DLC

Haven't read the full thing but it says "The Commission acknowledges that Spain has already expressed its full intention to ask Frontex for assistance" in the introduction.

Fredbargate

Therefore you shouldn't be surprised that Gibraltar will resist this.

https://www.gbc.gi/news/european-com...-and-gibraltar

Both the UK and Gibraltar have stated the European Commission's proposed mandate for the opening of negotiations for an EU-UK agreement is unacceptable. The Foreign Secretary says it directly conflicts with the agreed framework, adding it seeks to undermine the UK’s sovereignty over Gibraltar, and cannot form a basis for negotiations.

For its part the ( Gibraltar ) Government says the mandate "strays unhelpfully" from the New Year's Eve Agreement, saying of the current draft that there is "no possibility for this forming the basis for an agreement".

DLC

This would be the EU's way of saying "you should have stuck the stickers on the packages, you should have had the inspection points ready, and you should have sent us copies of the customs declarations for goods going to Northern Ireland like you said you would... now let's talk about Gibraltar, what do you propose that helps us smooth everything out?"

Fredbargate

Well the French navy assisting illegal asylum seekers to cross the channel after passing through safe countries certainly won't

But thats the EU for you

DLC

It's not illegal to claim asylum and they're under no obligation to claim asylum in France. The "first safe country" rule was due to the Dublin Convention which the UK left.