Tag: Gibraltar

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 16:10 UTC

  Foreign Office complains to Spain search of a UK diplomatic bag at the Gibraltar border

  

  The British Government said Spain’s decision to search a UK diplomatic bag at the border with Gibraltar was “a serious infringement” of international diplomatic protocol. In a statement, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said it had called on the Spanish Government to look into the incident and ensure it was not repeated.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 10:12 UTC

  UK 'unreserved' support for Gibraltar's international sports: first football, now rugby

  

  Britain’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, has pledged her ‘unreserved’ support Gibraltar’s international sporting ambitions. The backing for Gibraltar comes as the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) goes through the process of FIRA/AER (European Rugby Federation) membership after being previously rejected and blocked by Spain last July despite meeting the necessary criteria.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:41 UTC

  UK and EU have not been firm enough with Spain, claims former Royal Navy chief

  

  Current events in Gibraltar and the continued incursions by Spanish vessels in the Rock's territorial waters were addressed in a strong piece in the Daily Telegraph by the former head of the Royal Navy, Lord Admiral West. This follows calls from British MPs last week for pressure to be brought on Spain within the context of NATO.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 09:01 UTC

  UK/Spain annual Tertulias Forum takes off in Oxford; Gibraltar expected to be addressed

  

  Britain’s Europe Minister, David Lidington, and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo are attending a top-level Anglo-Hispanic forum that starts this week in Oxford. The annual British-Spanish Tertulias Forum brings together senior ministers, parliamentarians, academics, business leaders, scientists and artists from both countries to discuss topical issues.

• Friday, November 22nd 2013 - 20:21 UTC

  “Excellent relations with UK” but “tough controls on Gibraltar” announced Rajoy

  

  Spain’s President Mariano Rajoy has declared his intent to sustain both good relations with Britain and tough controls on Gibraltar at the border. The remarks came in an interview with Radio Nacional de España in which he defended Spain’s attitude to Gibraltar.

• Thursday, November 21st 2013 - 18:56 UTC

  British parliament sends strong message to Spain decrying belligerence towards Gibraltar

  

  British MPs from across the political spectrum sent “an extremely powerful message” to the Spanish Government voicing anger at its treatment of Gibraltar and its people. Parliamentarians from all the major British political parties spoke in unison to decry Spanish belligerence toward the Rock during a 40-minute emergency session in the House of Commons.

• Thursday, November 21st 2013 - 06:52 UTC

  Spain says strict controls at Gibraltar border will remain: “a fight against illegal items and contraband”

  

  Spain’s Minister for European Affairs Iñigo Méndez de Vigo has said Madrid will maintain strict controls at the border. Speaking with the media in Brussels the minister said that the European Commission had endorsed the action it has being taking as in line with EU norms.

• Friday, November 15th 2013 - 17:01 UTC

  EC calls on Spain and Gibraltar for a “constructive dialogue” and cooperation on border controls

  

  The European Commission called on Friday for daily cooperation between Gibraltar and Spain regarding the ongoing dispute over border controls and “encourages all relevant authorities to strengthen their constructive dialogue with their counterparts for this purpose”.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 19:02 UTC

  Spain warns “exhaustive checks” at border crossing with Gibraltar will continue

  

  The Spanish Government warned on Tuesday that it would continue to implement exhaustive checks on vehicles and pedestrians crossing into Spain from Gibraltar.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:32 UTC

  Britain dismisses suggestion of any bilateral negotiations with Spain on Gibraltar

  

  The British Government has dismissed any suggestion of a return to bilateralism with Spain over Gibraltar. In a response to a question tabled in the House of Commons, Europe Minister David Lidington repeated Britain’s long-standing commitment to the people of Gibraltar over sovereignty.