Caruana Praises Pro-Gibraltar Foreign Office Committee Report

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

04 August 2003

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruana, has praised a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report which recommends that the British government should attempt to foster more friendly relations between the Rock and Spain whilst mothballing the joint sovereignty issue.

Commenting on the report in the Gibraltar Chronicle last week, the Chief Minister described the FCA verdict as "pro Gibraltar" adding that: “There is no point in the pursuit of an agreement based on the principle of joint or shared sovereignty, and I hope that that will now be properly laid to rest.” Caruana also welcomed other favourable recommendations in the report, including the right for Gibraltarians to vote in the European Parliament elections and the necessity of the UK government to protect Gibraltar from "Spanish slurs."

With regard to the joint sovereignty proposals, the FCA report stated: “In our view, the reality is that the deal is not only wrong in principle, it is simply unenforceable. The Government should recognise explicitly that the deal is dead, and should arrange for a speedy burial. We recommend that the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) withdraw its unacceptable joint sovereignty proposal, and then get on establishing normal and co-operative relations between Spain and Gibraltar as should be the case between member states of the EU and their dependent territories."

The FCA also questioned the current negotiating arrangements under the 'Brussels process' initiated in 1984, which from 2002 has been dubbed the "two flags, three voices" talks. This gives the UK and Spain the right to agree measures impacting on Gibraltar without its consent, except in cases affecting sovereignty which must be put before a referendum. The committee instead supported a reversion to a policy put in place in 1997 by the then foreign Secretary Robin Cook, which sought not to sanction any proposals concerning the Rock without its specific consent.

Other issues cited in the FAC report included Spain's legal action against the UK concerning legislation to enfranchise the Gibraltar populace as part of an English or Welsh constituency. The committee dismissed the action as either "sabre rattling" or a "serious attempt to interfere in the democratic process." Furthermore, the FAC recommended that the UK government should clearly explain the implications of the draft Constitution of the European Convention.

Responding to the report, a Foreign Office spokesman said the department would "respond in detail in due course. However, we do not accept the main conclusion in the report that joint sovereignty is unacceptable."

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