Rosemary

Please stop you two or you are in danger of breeching Rule 1 and that is not tolerated.

Rosemary

Fredbargate

Gibraltar ‘planning for a hard Brexit’, Tipping tells Brussels

Mr Tipping told the parliament’s Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion that Gibraltar’s finance centre was “small by European standards” but crucial to Gibraltar’s economy.
But he said the Rock did not expect to obtain a “special status” after Brexit and was resigned to lose its access to the EU market once Britain leaves the bloc.
“We are currently planning for a hard Brexit, but with a firm commitment from the United Kingdom government to maintain and broaden access to their financial markets from Gibraltar,” Mr Tipping said.
“Thus our financial services economic model will not have to change.”
“Indeed, it brings opportunity as we will be the only territory in Europe with automatic access to the United Kingdom in banking, insurance, investment services and any other similar area where cross-border directives currently apply.”
Mr Tipping said that after Brexit, Gibraltar would continue to apply existing commitments on exchange of information, anti-money laundering and financial supervision.
“Going forward from that date, we will then choose whether to voluntarily apply any further new EU legislation or to adopt international standards which have the same effect,” he said.

Full article:-
Gibraltar ‘planning for a hard Brexit’, Tipping tells Brussels – Gibraltar Chronicle

dougal03

I believe ,Fred,that you mostly quote directly from the Gib.Chronicle which any of us interested can read on-line each day,as I do.I am a Brit.living in Spain who has some ties with Gib.& go there regularly.However I can see both sides view point.Spain gains with regular employment of it,s citizens,but equally Gib.residents have access to their skills,who do you get if you want your apartment decorated by a tradesman.One time when I was crossing,early morning,I went in with dozens of children from the school in La Linea & asked a bus driver where were they going.It appeared that they were joining kids from a Gib.school on a trip to make up the numbers.That,s living in harmony,something our politicians should be focusing on.When one day we encounter aliens from a different planet,should we say"I am from Madrid,Manchester or Melbourne" or rather " we are earthmen"?

Fredbargate

Unfortunately whilst there are areas of cooperation at local level this does not happen politically. Madrid refuses to accept most of Gibraltar's legislation and only communicates through London whilst at the same time trying to destroy Gibraltar's economy, the same economy that employs thousand of Spaniards.
Look back at Gibraltar's attempt to join UEFA and see their attitude to sport, I believe even today Spanish football teams are banned from competing with Gibraltar ones.
You yourself are being penalised by the lack of implementation of the Open Sky agreement because Madrid wants Gibraltar Airport excluded, an airport in Europe.
But back to tradesmen I occasionally use a local company whose staff includes Brits and Romanians but mostly do household repairs myself.

Fredbargate

Word is circulating that Michael Llamas from Gibraltar has been elected to the Ethics Committee of FIFA.

Considering the struggle Gibraltar had to join UEFA and FIFA due to many years of blacking by Spain and the subsequent legal cases this is a great step for Gibraltar who are two days short of one years membership.

Fredbargate

Let us not forget how badly the EU has treated Gibraltar over the years
May 15, 2017 | By Joe Garcia

In recent years there has been something of an improvement in the way the EU has treated Gibraltar, but we must not let that obscure the much longer period when the EU was deemed to be a negative quantity in Gibraltar.

We need to refresh our memories and put our relations with the EU in perspective.

In November 2013 I wrote a report which was headed:"How can the EU say that the inhuman frontier delays do not breach EU law?" And the first paragraph in that report added: "The European Commission has given the world the impression that the Spanish authorities have not infringed EU law by the draconian measures they have imposed at the frontier. If that is the behaviour the EU commends, accepts and upholds it is small wonder that more people than ever are questioning their democratic credentials and the need to belong to such an institution."

Now, we have seen how Brussels has sided with Madrid, giving the Spaniards a say in Gibraltar affairs. Could anything be more serious than that? So, let us not forget that the EU have never been Gibraltar's real friends. And there is more to come as the Brexit negotiations get going.

Full article:-http://gibraltarpanorama.gi/14775/287683/a/let-us-not-forget-how-badly-the-eu-has-treated-gibraltar-over-the-years

Fredbargate

In particular
Labour will ensure there is no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and that there is no change in the status or sovereignty of Gibraltar.
We will also protect Gibraltar’s economy and ensure that its government can continue to create jobs and prosperity in the years to come.

Labour Manifesto

Fredbargate

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MANIFESTO 2017

We will fight to ensure that the priorities and long-term interests of the nations of the UK are fully taken into account during negotiations. We will oppose any
moves that threaten the political stability of Northern Ireland. We will also campaign to protect the rights of the people of Gibraltar.

http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net...pdf?1495020157

Fredbargate

THE CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST PARTY MANIFESTO 2017

And we will protect the democratic freedom of the people of Gibraltar and our overseas territories to remain British, for as long as that is their wish

https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/m...ifesto2017.pdf

dougal03

when push comes to shove can we believe either of them.

Fredbargate

The UN’s annual decolonisation seminar this week heard two sharply contrasting versions of Spain’s co-sovereignty proposal: For Madrid, the “generous offer” was in line with UN resolutions and would safeguard the “socioeconomic wellbeing” of Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar in the face of Brexit. For Gibraltar, the proposal was “a farce” that ignored the wishes of the Gibraltarians and would perpetuate colonial rule.

At UN decolonisation seminar, contrasting views on joint sovereignty – Gibraltar Chronicle

After setting out Madrid’s traditional position on Gibraltar and the principle of territorial integrity,

Ceuta and Melilla plus others ?

Fredbargate

WHAT SPANISH CHEEK!

A Spanish warship makes an illegal incursion into British waters at Gibraltar. The Spanish see nothing wrong in that. Then, a British warship enters British waters, and they try to kick up a row about it - because it was a nuclear submarine! What Spanish cheek!

If there was a war, submarines like HMS Torbay would be putting at risk their sailors in defence of NATO - and that would include Spain!

Full article :-
WHAT SPANISH CHEEK!

dougal03

That,s the Spanish for you,Fred! Although I can see why they made a fuss about a nuclear sub. near their territory as Spain is a non-nuclear member of NATO.Should Scotland eventually leave the UK,they will want to be rid of Trident which is,at present,as we all know,based in Scotland.A new deep harbour site will need to be found,certainly not my home town on the south coast,or any other thereabouts.There is of course the Falklands & our dear old Gib.,both very suitable!!

Fredbargate

Concrete bollards control vehicle access on Main Street

Concrete bollards have been placed strategically on Main Street as an enhanced security measure in the wake recent terror attacks.
The bollards prevent vehicles from driving into pedestrian areas at speed, while allowing access for deliveries and emergency vehicles.
The concrete blocks are in any event a temporary measure until retractable bollards can be installed.
“In the light of recent events in UK, HM Government of Gibraltar is taking additional precautionary security measures in the area of Main Street,” a spokesman for No.6 Convent Place said.
“Temporary protective barriers known as ‘Jersey Barriers’ are being deployed at strategic locations within Main Street, taking into consideration the potential need of access by emergency service vehicles.”

Concrete bollards control vehicle access on Main Street – Gibraltar Chronicle

Fredbargate

Frontier smokescreen is now being understood

The patience of the Spanish public is wearing thin with attempts by the Spanish government to use frontier delays as distraction from corruption cases.

This was the message from Manuel Triano, the current rotating president of the Cross-Frontier Group (CFG), who yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chief Minister.

"Each time there's tension at the frontier both our populations on either side can tell that is because of state politics," said Triano, head of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) in the Campo area. "The Chief Minister of Gibraltar has always made it clear the need for collaboration and being a good neighbour. However, since the Partido Popular took office in Madrid it did away with all the process of neighbourly relations its predecessor had put in place.

"We have continually condemned this sort of politics that in the end has tried to kick Gibraltar but only ends up hurting the Spanish workers. These are policies that don't take into account the citizens but instead simply promote the flag, which often is used to hide other problems. The idea of highlighting the foreign enemy has always worked in the past, although every time I think people believe it even less.

Frontier smokescreen is now being understood