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 Foreign Office has once again summoned the Spanish Ambassador to the UK, ‘to underline serious concern at the incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.’
Speaking after the summoning of His Excellency Federico Trillo, the Minister for Europe, David Lidington said, ‘I am extremely concerned to hear of another incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) on 1 April by a Spanish state research vessel, which sought to undertake survey activity. Not only were the actions of the survey vessel unlawful, but it was accompanied by a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel whose dangerous manoeuvring presented a significant safety concern on the waters.
Sunborn Gibraltar is now open to the public. The hotel is currently undergoing a soft opening phase, during which time the staff will fulfil a comprehensive training programme and the finishing touches will take place to the hotel interior. Further interior work will continue with the hotel’s Pearl Spa and Linen Restaurant – a Scandinavian fine dining restaurant with Asian influences, which is scheduled to open in June 2014.
In a question put to the Foreign Secretary William Hague by Conservative MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, the matter of La Linea’s Alcaidesa Marina being partly constructed in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters was raised. In response, Minister for Europe, David Lidington, speaking on behalf of the Foreign Secretary, said that less than 0.0001 square miles of the marina encroaches on BGTW.
Yesterday, a member of the Cross Border Group delivered a speech to the Andalucian Parliament in Seville. Estibaliz Menoyo Sanchez delivered the speech below: