Straw Assures Gibraltar Over European Issues

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

17 September 2003

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has given an assurance to the government of Gibraltar that he is willing to discuss the jurisdiction's long-term interest in EU integration, though stating that he would not pressurise the territory into changing its status in the EU.

Straw made his comments in front of the parliamentary European Scrutiny Committee last week. According to the Gibraltar Chronicle the Foreign Secretary assured the Committee Chairman Jimmy Hood that the UK is implementing the Matthews judgement which directed Britain to enfranchise the population of Gibraltar for elections to the European Parliament. “The Government in Spain have submitted an objection to that and we are resisting that very strongly,” said Straw.

As for the Convention on the EU Constitution, Straw said he envisaged little change in Gibraltar's status within the EU citing as an example the Rock's continuing exemption from VAT.

“There is one area of Convention work which could affect Gibraltar, this is the merger of the pillars, which would bring Gibraltar inside all of the JHA measures, including police and judicial cooperation," stated Mr Straw, adding: "There are discussions taking place, I am not sure whether they have taken place, they are to take place, and I have agreed the implications with the Government of Gibraltar.”

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