Sep 02 - Montoro "Fails To Respond" To Gibraltar Government Offer Of Co-operation
The Government has said that the statements against Gibraltar today from Mr Montoro are “worthy of derision” adding that the Spanish minister “has adopted the unjustifiable statements of Mr Mendez de Vigo” by suggesting that Spain's exchequer loses in the region of €1bn a year to Gibraltar in tax evasion.
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: "Instead of making baseless attacks on Gibraltar Mr Montoro would do better to reply to my letter of last year inviting him to seek such information as he might need to pursue these alleged tax evaders. Our offer remains on the table but has not even had a courtesy of a reply. Indeed, Mr Montoro might have more credibility if he were to send me a copy of the letter he alleges he has sent the UK Treasury on this issue, as Gibraltar is the only relevant and competent authority in respect of taxation in relation to this jurisdiction. Instead, Mr Montoro's attitude today is typical of the bluff and bluster for which he has become known in Spanish politics. A lot of heat and very little light; once again deploying the PP tactic of using Gibraltar as a smokescreen for the very serious problems affecting Spain."
