European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, together with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo, met in Brussels earlier today.
The Defenders of Gibraltar are disappointed by the recent statement by the EU Commission, which is a clear and blatant attempt to side step the serious issue of politically motivated Frontier Queues which Gibraltar has had to endure since the reopening of the Frontier. Many Gibraltarians and other nationalities that work in Gibraltar are rightly angry to read that the European Commission did not find evidence to conclude that Spanish authorities had infringed upon the relevant provisions of Union law.
This morning the first meeting of the Parliamentary Reform Select Committee was held.
Chaired by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, the purpose of the Committee is to consider the implementation of appropriate recommendations of the Report produced by the Independent Commission on Democratic and Parliamentary Reform.
This Wednesday, the RGP arrested a number of individuals on tobacco smuggling related charges. Two Romanian nationals were arrested for possession of 8,800 cigarettes. Both have been bailed out in the sum of £850 to appear at New Mole House Police Station on the 2nd December 2013.
Regarding this afternoon’s announcement by the European Commission that their fact finding mission found no fault with Spanish border checks, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have welcomed the recommendation that the Spanish Government should take measures to ensure that the frontier functions efficiently, as well as their decision to review the situation once again in six months.