Tag: United Kingdom

• 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.

• Wednesday, November 20th 2013 - 04:16 UTC

  UK summons Spanish ambassador following the latest incursion in Gibraltar territorial waters

  

  Acting Permanent Under Secretary Matthew Rycroft summoned the Spanish Ambassador H.E. Federico Trillo on Tuesday afternoon to raise the United Kingdom’s serious concerns regarding a significant incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on 18 and 19 November.

• 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”.

• Thursday, November 14th 2013 - 19:58 UTC

  UK becomes observer of the Pacific Alliance, announces Chilean foreign minister

  

  Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Moreno has said that the UK has been granted Observer Status of the Pacific Alliance. The announcement was made by Moreno during his recent visit to Europe. The Pacific Alliance is made up of Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico and is consolidating as the fastest growing group in the region.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:38 UTC

  Falklands/Malvinas: Visiting MPs refuse to organize working group on the Islands sovereignty

  

  A group of visiting British MPs and Lords refused to organize a working group over the issue of Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty with their Argentine counterparts during a visit to Congress in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

• 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.

• Monday, November 11th 2013 - 23:46 UTC

  Falklands oil companies bombarded with warning-letters from Argentina

  

  Argentina has begun a determined campaign to deter companies from drilling for oil in disputed waters around the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic. On the eve of a visit by UK parliamentarians to Buenos Aires this week, the Argentine embassy in London warned that legal action was being ramped up against drillers and their suppliers, reports Terry Macalister in The Guardian.

• Saturday, November 9th 2013 - 18:27 UTC

  Bank of England leaves rates unchanged; focus on next week's inflation report

  

  Bank of England has left interest rates unchanged at 0.5% and made no change to its program of quantitative easing, as had been widely expected. The decision came as no surprise as the Bank has said it will not consider a rate rise until the unemployment rate falls below 7%.