UK Proposes Relaxation Of Gibraltar's Border, Spanish Media Suggests

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

30 July 2003

According to a report in the Spanish daily El Mundo, the United Kingdom has proposed the relaxation of border controls between Spain and Gibraltar in return for the Rock's full participation in the European Union.

The paper reports that British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and European Minister Denis MacShane have sounded out their Spanish counterparts, Ana Palacio and Ramon De Miguel in verbal communications. Apparently, under the British proposal, the Spanish would officially recognise the Gibraltar government, which would remain in control of access to Spain and the EU without the involvement of the Guardia Civil. Greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies would also be encouraged, with Spanish police allowed to pursue suspects into Gibraltar.

According to the Gibraltar Chronicle, the article states that: “In the opinion of the British Government, Spain must make gestures toward the people of Gibraltar and a first step would be the removal of the frontier and its irritating daily controls. That, in their view, would pave the way so that at some point in the future it would be possible to discuss sovereignty related issues without so much rejection by the Gibraltarians.”

El Mundo also suggested that the removal of the frontier fence would have a "calming effect" on Gibraltarians, and that the relaxation of the border controls would both stimulate commerce and reduce the burden on the British taxpayer.

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