Spain views Gibraltar as a ‘national security risk

The Spanish Government has included Gibraltar in a list of potential ‘risks or threats’ to its national maritime security.

http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=32015

So when are you going to round up a few buddies and do the biz and get 'em really worried, probably half a dozen will do. A dinghy assault on Cadiz launched from a Gib base would be historically nice, sad that the king hasn't got a beard though, maybe hairy Bo*****ks would suffice.............
M

Demonstration against ‘violation of Human Rights’ at the frontier

A number of cross-border associations are organising a demonstration at the border tonight to protest at what they describe as the persistent “violation of human rights” by the Spanish authorities.

The demonstration will take place at the airport parking at 7pm where there will be a testimonial on the symbolism of December 10, which is international Human Rights Day.

When asked why the demonstration will not take place simultaneously in La Linea he claimed more days were needed to apply for permission compared to Gibraltar.

I believe the following should be substituted in place of the last sentence:-

We are not demonstrating in Democratic Spain because we do not whish to have the shit kicked out of us by the GC.

http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=32026

The Spanish Foreign Minister has expressed doubts as to the solidity of Spain's claim to the sovereignty of Gibraltar's territorial waters.


http://www.gbc.gi/news/2906/margallo...27s-bgtw-claim

I believe the present blockade of the frontier was originally based on Spains assertion that Gib had put concrete blocks in Spanish waters.

Thought they said it was all about tobacco smuggling. Truth is, they don't need an excuse - they can just do what they want and no-one can do a thing about it.

No it was originally about the waters, later they added tobacco to strengthen their case, then arms smuggling , money laundering and much more.

i.e. smoke and mirrors.

But the people in the queues will be happy to know it's all been due to a solid conviction.

The European Commission has provoked outrage among Gibraltar’s Twitter community for refusing to answer any questions on the Gibraltar Frontier during a Tweet Q&A session this afternoon.

The session was on Freedom of Movement within the EU, but the Commissioner answering questions said border controls didn’t fall within this category.

http://gbc.gi/news/2919/eu-commissio...ng-twitter-q&a

Cadiz PP president Antonio Sanz has described as “treachery to Spain” the fact that PSOE executive members met with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on Thursday.

http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=32104

Continued border queues are unlawful, says FCO minister

Britain remains confident that Spain has acted—and continues to act—unlawfully by imposing the delays at the border it has done since the summer.

Senior Minister of State at the Foreign Office Baroness Warsi sent that clear message in response to questions from former Gibraltar Governor Lord Luce.

“The period covered by the evidence started on 4 July, some three weeks before the Spanish authorities introduced disproportionate and time-consuming checks on 26 July. It is unsurprising that the Commission was unable to conclude that EU law had been infringed after the visit. The border operated much more smoothly than normal during the Commission visit. This is not the same as confirmation that Spain has acted lawfully. We remain confident that Spain has acted—and continues to act—unlawfully,” he said.

“The European Commission also wrote to the Government of Spain on 15 November with recommendations that we believe could significantly reduce queue times across the border. These include reviewing traffic organisation, increasing the number of vehicular lanes, and carrying out more targeted checks. We continue to press the Spanish authorities to implement their recommendations from the Commission and fully expect Spain to act on those recommendations without delay,” said Baroness Warsi.

http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=32158

If Sir Graham's amendments had been carried, passengers flying in and out of the Rock would be entitled to accommodation, refreshments, compensation or a free transfer onto another plane if their flight was cancelled or delayed.

Watson, who attended the Transport committee to vote on the amendments he tabled, naturally voted in favour. He was joined by other MEPs from Parliament's Liberal Group. But the amendment was lost since members of the European People’s Party (EPP), the Party of European Socialists and the Greens voted against it.

http://vox.gi/local/7873-watson-meps...gibraltar.html

Other reports indicate this issue is not fully settled yet.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but it makes front page of the Guardian today

Euro 2016: Uefa decision to separate Spain and Gibraltar beggars belief
If Spain and Gibraltar can't put their 'sensitivities' aside for 90 minutes of football, they should be shown the door

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...pain-gibraltar

Is it really the 18th Dec today, So hard to get to grips that it is Xmas in 7 days, strangest Xmas I have ever had, just feels like summer still.

I think this comment to the article sums it all up:-

bikiniamber

18 December 2013 12:22pm
Recommend
63

Of course this is absolutely ludicrous. But let's be clear about one thing - this has absolutely nothing to do with Gibraltar. This is a UEFA decision pandering to Spanish "sensitivities". The Gibraltar FA have always made it clear they want to play everyone - and a match against Spain would be relished in Gibraltar. Politics have no place in sport but UEFA have brought it right in to appease the Spanish government.

Indeed, poor reporting too, she is normally very good.

On 8th January 1997, the GFA applied to FIFA for membership of that organisation.

In March 1999, FIFA confirmed that the GFA had conformed to the requirements of Article 4.7 of the FIFA Statutes and that in consequence thereof FIFA was passing its file on the GFA to UEFA.

On the 12th day of April 1999, the GFA applied for membership of UEFA.

In May 2000, UEFA and FIFA conducted a joint inspection of the football related facilities in Gibraltar and in consequence thereof the UEFA Administration produced a report dated 11th July 2000 in which the Executive Committee of UEFA were recommended to grant the GFA membership of UEFA provided that three conditions were satisfied. The GFA has confirmed to said three conditions and this has been accepted by the UEFA Administration. The UEFA Administration stated in its report that "the FA of Gibraltar fulfils all requisite statutory conditions for admission to UEFA".

In August 2000, notice of the GFA's application to UEFA was leaked to the Spanish media and in consequence thereof, both the Spanish Government and its political parties commenced a virulent campaign to prevent the GFA's application from succeeding on purely political grounds; namely all Spanish objections to our application were based on their claim to Sovereignty of Gibraltar following from a Treaty made in 1713 between England and Spain. None of the Spanish objections were based on or related to sporting considerations or criteria.

In consequence of the Spanish political objections as voiced to UEFA through the Spanish Football Association the Executive Committee of UEFA at its meeting of the 14/15th December 2000 decided to appoint three independent judges to consider the legality and validity of the Spanish objections to the GFA's application. In May 2001, this independent legal panel heard the submissions of the Spanish and English Football associations as well as the GFA's. On the 27th August 2001, the independent legal panel issued its report in which they rejected all Spanish objections to the GFA's application and stated that "the GFA was entitled to provisional admission as a member of UEFA".

Notwithstanding the report of the independent legal panel the Executive Committee of UEFA decided on the 7th September 2001 to postpone indefinitely consideration of the GFA's application for membership. In consequence of the Executive Committee's refusal to consider and decide on the application for membership the GFA had no alternative but to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

On the 11th October 2001 UEFA Congress approved the change of the UEFA Statutes so that as from the 1st January 2002 UEFA membership would only be open to associations from a country recognised by the UN.

On the 12th July 2002 UEFA finally confirmed its consent to accept CAS Jurisdiction with regard to the GFA's claims against UEFA.

On the 22nd day of October 2003, the Court of Arbitration for Sport held that UEFA "is ordered to decide on the GFA's application for membership on the basis of the UEFA rules applicable at the time when the application was made. The decision has to be made by UEFA be no later than the 31st March 2004".

On the 22nd day of March 2004, the Executive Committee of UEFA refused the GFA's application for membership notwithstanding that it accepted that the GFA met all sporting requirements and criteria for eligibility to membership. The Executive Committee stated that "the main reason for this decision is that the Gibraltar Football Association does not fulfil the criteria for FIFA membership". In consequence of such a refusal the GFA had no alternative but to file on the 12th May 2005 a new case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On the 6th July 2006 the Court ordered that:-

the Executive Committee is ordered to admit the GFA to provisional membership at its next meeting;
the Executive Committee is ordered to put the question of the GFA's application for full membership before the next meeting of the UEFA Congress;
the UEFA Congress is ordered to decide on the GFA's application in accordance with the letter and spirit of the CAS Award.

On the 11/12th July 2006 the Executive Committee met but in breach of the Court order did not take a decision on the GFA's application for membership.

On the 4/5th October 2006 the Executive Committee again met and once again in breach of the Court order did not grant the GFA provisional membership and instead adjourned the matter to the 7/8th December 2006 because the Spanish Football Association had filed a report objecting to the GFA's application on the grounds that the football stadium built in 1949 is situated on land which Spain argues is theirs under the 1713 Treaty!!

http://www.gfa.gi/index.php?page=Uefa

On 24 May 2013, Gibraltar became the 54th member of UEFA