Advertise On EU-Digest

Annual Advertising Rates

8/18/13

Gibraltar: Conflict between Britain and Spain

Gibraltar
UK Prime Minister David Cameron today telephoned European Commission President José Manuel Barroso to express his views over developments on Gibraltar.

President Barroso explained that the Commission is continuously monitoring the situation and will do what is in its competence to ensure respect of EU law.

President Barroso also expects that this matter is addressed between the two countries concerned in a way that is in line with their common membership in the EU.

Note EU-Digest:   Gibraltar is located on the tip of Spain, but is a British territory, thanks to the 1714 Treaty at Utrecht that settled the War of the Spanish Succession. Since then, it's been the source of unending tension between Britain and Spain, but tensions really soared last month when Gibraltar created dumped cement blocks into the waters around the enclave, in order to prevent Spanish boats from fishing there. This infuriated Spanish officials, who retaliated by partially blocking the border checkpoint between Spain and Gibraltar, making it almost impossible for people to travel there from Spain, with some officials calling for a return of the "Spanish Armada" to Gibraltar. Britain is now retaliating back by threatening legal action, saying that the border controls are a violation of European Union rules.

Read more: EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press Release - European Commission President's phone conversation with UK Prime Minister on Gibraltar

No comments: