Gibraltar files complaint to EC because of Spain's 'disproportionate checks' to pedestrians at the border

Wednesday, November 6th 2013 - 01:45 UTC

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The Gibraltar Government has sent a complaint to the European Commission about the “disproportionate checks” being conducted by the Spanish authorities on pedestrians entering Spain. It follows the recent build-up of pedestrian queues over the past fortnight, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle. Read full article

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Anglotino
Oh dear!

Unintended consequences of stupid Spanish decisions are backfiring on Madrid now.
Nov 06th, 2013 - 02:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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LEPRecon
The Spanish just don't seem to realise that modern technology can record everything that they say and do.

This will backfire on them tremendously. Next time they need a loan to bail out their ever failing economy, the UK may just decide to vote no, and encourage other EU countries to do the same.

After all, the Spanish government seems hell bent on squandering money on this type of thing, instead of actually sorting out the problems in the economy.
Nov 06th, 2013 - 11:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Conqueror
So! All the Spanish accusations about “improprieties” in Gibraltar's financial sector are proven to be false. Spanish bullying and discrimination now being disclosed. Please, British government, do the right thing by the people of Gibraltar. This NEEDS the British armed forces. Artillery on the Rock. Apache gunships on the Rock. Light/medium tanks on the Rock. A Marine battalion on the Rock. A simple warning to Spain. Anything considered to be an “incursion” or “illegal” activity may be fired on. But, most important, do it!
Nov 06th, 2013 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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LEPRecon
@3 Conqueror

The UK doesn't need to do any of that. Spain wouldn't dare attack Gibraltar as the diplomatic and 'actual' fallout would end the government, and probably the country as a whole, that did it.

Should they 'actually' be stupid enough to try the military option, then they would be bombed back to the stoneage by our aircraft stationed in Cyprus (and they know it), plus have lots of missiles fired at them by our submarines (and they know it). And all of that would be before the troops based in Cyprus, Germany and the UK, (all of whom are battle hardened) turned up to personally boot them from the Rock.

Spain's military equipment is nowhere near as good as the UK's. Their troops are inexperienced at fighting people who can actually shoot back at them. Remember how they gave in to the terrorists after the Madrid bombing? They removed their troops from Afghanistan because they were afraid.

The diplomatic fallout would be even greater. Basically they, by the act of invading sovereign British territory, would have declared war on the UK: not only a fellow EU member, but a fellow NATO member. To declare war on a fellow ally like this, would court being banned from both organisations. So no money would be forthcoming from the EU, and they would then be expected to pay back - with lots of interest, all the money the EU has loaned them.

No longer being a member of the EU, means that the EU could refuse to trade with them, and the loss of tourist revenue (tourists don't like being caught in the middle of a war zone), would reverberate for years down the line.

And for what? A piece of land that, even if they did manage to invade, they wouldn't be able to hold.

So why should the UK bother? Gibraltar is quite safe from the Spaniards - and that is why the Spanish act this way. They are impotent - and they know it.
Nov 06th, 2013 - 12:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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St.John
There is no need for any kind of military threat or action.

If the UK wants to retaliate, all it takes is to announce that all travellers between Britain and Spain will be 'checked' and delayed for hours when leaving and entering the UK. The Spanish tourist industry would collapse overnight and Spains timid 0.0002 percent recovery go down the drain.
Nov 06th, 2013 - 06:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Briton
Basically Spain is all mouth and no trousers..lol.
Nov 06th, 2013 - 07:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Pete Bog
@6 Briton
Because it has lost its teeth now all the toothpaste is back in its tube.
Nov 07th, 2013 - 11:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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