Gibraltar 'the party is over' comments from Madrid raise concerns in London

Gibraltar's border with Spain. London complained to Madrid about Spain ramping up border checks, which forced drivers to wait for up to seven hours in searing heat. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters

The Foreign Office voiced "concern" on Sunday night following comments from the Spanish foreign minister, which appear to suggest Madrid is preparing to take a harder line in the escalating dispute over Gibraltar.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC, Jos? Garc?a-Margallo criticised the conciliatory stance taken by the previous government towards the Mediterranean outpost saying, "The party is over".

The minister suggested a ?50 (?43.40) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving the territory, known as the Rock, via the border with Spain. The minister said the proceeds would be used to help Spanish fishermen affected by damage to fishing grounds allegedly caused by the Gibraltarian authorities. Such a fee would be a punitive cost on residents who regularly commute to Spain for work.

Spain is also considering closing its airspace to flights heading to Gibraltar, and changing the law so that online gaming companies operating from the British overseas territory have to use Spanish servers and come under the jurisdiction of Madrid's taxation regime, Garc?a-Margallo said. He also indicated that the Spanish tax authorities may launch an investigation into property owned by about 6,000 Gibraltarians in neighbouring parts of Spain, as part of its EU obligations to control "fiscal irregularities".

Spain disputes Britain's three centuries of sovereignty over Gibraltar, which is home to close to 30,000 people with an economy dominated by off-shore banking, internet gambling operations and tourism.

Under the previous socialist government, Spain softened its stance on the territory, discussing other issues without bringing up sovereignty while agreeing to give Gibraltar a voice in any talks with Britain over its status.

The centre-right government of Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has taken a harder line regarding its claim on the territory. London has made clear that it will not negotiate over sovereignty as long as Gibraltar's people want to remain British.

"We are concerned by comments on Gibraltar which we are looking into further," a foreign office spokesman said.

"As we have said, we will not compromise on our sovereignty over Gibraltar, nor our commitment to its people. We continue to use all necessary measures to safeguard British sovereignty."

Garc?a-Margallo's comments represent the latest escalation in the dispute over the status of Gibraltar, following a number of alleged Spanish incursions into the territory's waters.

William Hague, the foreign secretary, last weekend phoned his Spanish counterpart to complain about Spain ramping up border checks, which forced drivers to wait for up to seven hours in searing heat. On Saturday, the Foreign Office summoned the Spanish ambassador to demand assurances that there would be no repeat of the excessive checks.

The authorities in Gibraltar said the elderly, children and the infirm were forced to wait in up to 30C heat, with the medical services treating people who were stuck in the queues.

Boats from Gibraltar began dumping blocks of concrete into the sea near the territory almost two weeks ago, saying it was creating an artificial reef that would foster fish populations.

Spain said the reef would block its fishing boats and ramped up border checks, creating long lines at the border between Spain and the territory.

Gibraltar complained to the European commission over what it says are unreasonable controls at the border, saying they violate European Union rules on free movement.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/04/gibraltar-comments-madrid-london-uk-spain

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