Fredbargate

Happy New Year to all
From Gibraltar

Rosemary

Happy New Year to you too.

I have closed the other thread as arranged.

Rosemary

tebo53

Happy New Year Fred. Keep up the good advice throughout 2024!

Steve

Fredbargate

Despite hopes that a deal might be reached over this festive season, there has yet to be any announcement, despite the resumption of talks following general elections on both sides of the frontier.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper, La Razon, ASCTEG spokesman, Juan José Uceda, highlighted some of the difficulties being experienced by Spanish workers, including applying for unemployment benefits and being excluded from healthcare.

The group, which represents Spanish workers in Gibraltar, says their numbers have continued to grow over the last few years, with around 10,600 Spaniards crossing the border daily. As such, Mr Uceda condemned the recent increase in waiting time for those returning to Spain after a day's work.

Here in Gibraltar, the Government has not commented on the status quo, with many hoping for an update in the Chief Minister's New Year's message next week

DLC

So, as I said in the other thread, the temporary diving licence agreement for residents with British driving licences was renewed a few times but discussions about the final agreement did not progress at all, until Spain decided to suspend the temporary agreement which appeared to concentrate minds on the UK side.

And I suspect the lessons learned by Spain from that agreement will be applied here. After all, Spain has to answer to other EU members about policing the Schengen border, not the UK, and the port and airport are outside the Schengen area but the Spain-Gibraltar border has been more open that it deserved to be given those circumstances presumably under the belief that the UK would be negotiating in good faith instead of banking what they've gained with the temporary agreement and not coming to a final agreement. Three years more than enough time, isn't it?

Fredbargate

What temporary driving licence?
I am a Gibraltarian driving a Gibraltar registered car with Gibraltar insurance.

Rosemary

I believe that the driving licence issue is regarding new residents not people who have lived there for years and already converted,.

Rosemary

Fredbargate

Hi Rosemary
New residents of where?

Rosemary

I think that DLC is referring to the problems that occurred for people changing their licences in Spain.

What happens in Gibraltar regarding driving licences?

Rosemary

Fredbargate

I'm not sure, when I arrived in Gib in 76 I passed local tests for m/cycle, car and HGV.

It's not a subject that has concerned me.

However one cannot drive a Gib registered vehicle in Spain without a Gib licence.

Therefore anyone comming on holiday and staying in Gib who wants to drive in Spain will be given a Spanish registered hire car

Fredbargate

Inflation on the Rock is now at 4.3%, down from 5.5%. It mirrors the same pattern as the UK, where the figure is on the decline. Inflation has started to slow; however, the Bank of England interest rate remains at 5.25%.

https://www.gbc.gi/news/inflation-rock-now-43-down-55

1sexsmith

Given the events in the Red Sea it is almost certainly going to lead to inflation rise as not only will many products increase in price but there will most certainly be a hike in oil prices. If anything interest rates will rise by summer so unfortunately I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel this year.

Fredbargate

If you visit Gib go into the dockyard and look at the comcen tunnel.
You will see light at the end
The comcen tunnel goes all the way from the Dockyard on the west side to Both Worlds on the east side

I know it as the comcen tunnel, but often called the Admiralty tunnel

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty_Tunnel

Fredbargate

https://www.chronicle.gi/socialist-mp-ruiz-boix-urges-treaty-negotiators-to-avoid-immovable-positions-in-search-of-deal/

16th January 2024Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, the Socialist MP and Mayor of San Roque, urged negotiators for a UK-EU treaty on Gibraltar to avoid “immovable positions” and “finally” reach agreement on a deal that benefits Gibraltar and the 300,000 inhabitants of the Campo de Gibraltar.

Fredbargate

Four Gibraltarian referees have been listed as officials for FIFA's international fixtures for 2024.

Jason Barcelo, Michael Macias, Daniel Gomez and Zyl Sheriff were presented with their 2024 FIFA badges at an annual camp for referees and match officials.

The GFA's Patrick Canepa says their inclusion in the list ensures Gibraltarian match officials will be operating on the European and international stage this year.