More Problems In Gibraltar

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23567982

what's worth more to Britain - a good strong relationship with Spain, or an insane insistence to hang on to this anachronistic quasi-colony?

[boxtops]

Seems like they are cutting of their noses to spite their faces again - so many Spaniards work in Gilbraltar, it's their own people who will be paying the entry fees.

[jno]

I'm sure the relationship with Spain is worth far less than the relationship with English-speaking people anywhere.

[hc4361]

They ca'nt do it anyway. Spain and Gibraltar are members of the EU which guarantees freedom of movement between member countries.

A load of hot air gesticulating.

[ludwig]

Option B.

[atalanta]

Democracy means that the will of the people prevails. When asked, Gibraltarians always vote nearly 100 percent to be British. Like the Falklanders.

[sunny-dave]

Spain needs us more than we need Spain - let's just point out the harsh economic facts to them, and invite them to stick their 50€ fee where the sun don't shine ...

[Gromit]

I don't that that either / or option is correct.

Gib is not part of the EU.

The New Spanish Government are using this to distract the population from their tanking economy.

The Andulucia region is fairing very badly at the moment while Gib is fairly prosperous. I am sure the local have already drawn their own conclusions.

Daft border controls are going to harm both economies. Perhaps Brotish tourists should go to Portugal instead, see that does for the Costa Del Sol local e onomy.

[Gromit]

Anyone know how to get an iPad out of Officer Crabtree mode?

[THECORBYLOON]

Why does the Foreign Office not ask the Spanish about their enclaves in Morocco whenever Gibraltar is mentioned?

[sunny-dave]

Worse Gromit it could be, Yodamode

[mikey4444]

I suspect that long after we have all died, this bickering between Spain and Britain will still be bubbling along nicely. Not sure why Britain should give Gib back to the Spanish though ?

[hc4361]

Gibraltar is a member of the EU - it joined the EEC in 1973 and European Union elections have been in place since 1994.

[jake-the-peg]

So let's see if I have this right

Last week they were deliberately causing delays in the road crossing

Then William Hague had strong words with Spain's Embassador about this

Now they're threatening to refuse access to Spanish airspace for planes bound for Gibralter too!

[bazwillrun]

"They ca'nt do it anyway. Spain and Gibraltar are members of the EU which guarantees freedom of movement between member countries.
"

they can do what they like...the UK are the only mugs that do whatever we are told by the eussr

[mikey4444]

It would seem that the Spanish can do precisely what it likes when it comes to Gib. This isn't first time that they have buggered about with the border crossing. Perhaps I have got this wrong, but I thought that one of the basic tenets of EU membership was that citizens have freedom of movement between member states ? Isn't what Spain is doing at the moment contravening this ?

[bazwillrun]

"Perhaps I have got this wrong, but I thought that one of the basic tenets of EU membership was that citizens have freedom of movement between member states ?"

sadly yes as we are finding out with all the rubbish we seem to attract

[emmie]

from wiki

Gibraltar is part of the European Union, having joined via the Single European Act 1972 and British Treaty of Accession in 1973, with exemption from some areas such as the Customs union and Common Agricultural Policy. The treaties relating to coal, steel, agriculture, and fisheries do not apply simply because Gibraltar does not produce any of those resources. After a ten-year campaign for the right to vote in European elections, since 2004 the people of Gibraltar have participated in elections for the European Parliament as part of the South West England constituency.

Spain have fare more pressing problems to concern themselves over, not least their high youth unemployment...

[hc4361]

Well, Spain isn't doing itself any favours with the Spaniards who commute to work in Gibraltar:

About 4,300 Spaniards, who live in the area of Spain adjacent to the British territory known as "El Campo de Gibraltar", make the short commute into Gibraltar to work every day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17635879

[bazwillrun]

"Spain have fare more pressing problems to concern themselves over, not least their high youth unemployment... "

not to mention their whole economy which the eussr and the left wing press are happily keeping schtum about

[McMouse]

The people of Gibraltar wish to be associated with UK. If Spain wants to push this maybe they should consider how many Brits take their vacations in Spain.