The British Government responded to Spain’s intervention at the UN Fourth Decolonization Committee with a firm statement about its commitment to the people of Gibraltar and their British sovereignty.
The IMF on Thursday backed giving debt-burdened Greece and Spain more time to reduce their budget deficits, cautioning that cutting too far, too fast would do more harm than good.
Standard & Poor's cut Spain's sovereign credit rating to BBB-minus, just above junk territory, citing a deepening economic recession that is limiting the government's policy options to arrest the slide.
Spain's parliament voted to block the northern region of Catalonia from holding a referendum on independence, the latest step in a growing political battle between Barcelona and Madrid in the midst of a deepening economic downturn.
The British Government and the Government of Gibraltar must work ever more closely together in a spirit of openness and trust to further mutual interests and “without conceding on sovereignty, which must remain paramount,” they must also look to the future and work to strengthen relationships with Spain”.
The Gibraltar Government has provided for more protection for British Gibraltar Territorial Waters with the publication of the revised Southern Waters of Gibraltar Management Scheme.
Thousands of Spaniards on Sunday marched in cities across the country to decry tough austerity measures, part of a growing protest movement that shows no signs of abating and could culminate in a general strike in November.
Spanish airline Cosmo which purchased in an auction in Montevideo seven aircraft from Uruguay’s liquidated flag-carrier Pluna said they will be used “to expand the charter flight business in Central and Eastern Europe”, according to an official company communiqué released by the Spanish government news agency EFE.
Spain will exhaust all legal means to prevent the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar gaining full membership of UEFA, Sports Minister Jose Ignacio Wert said. Gibraltar was admitted as a provisional member of European soccer's governing body on Monday and a decision on whether to grant full membership will be taken at a UEFA Congress in London next May.
The region of Catalonia announced on Tuesday it was calling a snap election over its drive for greater independence, deepening Spain’s crisis as its government struggles to avoid a full-blown bailout.