May 27 - Gibraltar’s Voice In Brussels – Picardo And Garcia Attend Key Meetings
- Tax transparency and EU referendum concerns dominate the agenda
- New Gibraltar office to open later this evening
- MEPs vow to continue to defend the Rock’s interests
YGTV In Brussels
An early morning session with Isle of Man officials kicked off a series of back-to-back meetings between the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, members of the Gibraltar delegation, and EU representatives and MEPs in Brussels.
TAX
The Gibraltar delegation then attended a meeting with the European Parliament’s TAXE Committee, led by Alain Lamoussoure, which also included spokespersons from various different political parliamentary groups. The Committee was set up last year in the wake of the Luxembourg leaks. Members quizzed the Gibraltar delegation on Gibraltar’s constitutional and financial arrangements including its corporate tax regime.
Today’s meeting was an information gathering exercise organised on the initiative of the Gibraltar delegation. The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, said he was pleased with the outcome, adding that many members had learned a great deal about Gibraltar’s status.
MEPs DEFEND THE ROCK
Before lunchtime, Mr Picardo also had brief meetings with South West of England and Gibraltar MEPs Ashley Fox (Con) and Julia Reid (UKIP). The delegation then had a working lunch with Clare Moody (Lab) and former Labour MEP Glyn Ford.
JULIA REID: “We need to bang the drum for Gibraltar”
Speaking about her meeting with the Chief Minister, Julia Reid MEP said that concerns about a future referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU had been expressed by the Gibraltar delegation. She explained, however, that if the UK were to exit the EU, it could nevertheless continue to trade with the EU – she said that this might remain possible in the absence of a political union.
“There’s a big, wide world out there to trade with. One of the biggest exporters to the EU is China, and they’re not in a political union with the EU.”
Pressed by YGTV on whether a UK exit would lead to further problems at the frontier - or even its closure - Ms Reid said that the future status of the border would be subject to negotiations.
“We would hope that, if we weren’t part of the EU, we would be able to do more in that regard. Hopefully, things will improve.”
Ms Reid also welcomed the opening of the Gibraltar Office in Brussels.
“I think it’s great – we need to bang the drum for Gibraltar.”
CLARE MOODY: “It’s vital for Gibraltar that the UK stays inside the EU”
The Labour MEP Clare Moody was staunch in her defence of EU membership.
“It’s vital for Gibraltar that the UK stays inside the EU. Freedom of movement is a fundamental principle and I will be campaigning shoulder to shoulder with the Chief Minister to keep the whole of the UK and Gibraltar inside the European Union,” she said.
She said that the inauguration of the Gibraltar Office was another step towards building the Rock’s presence in the institutional heart of the EU.
Ms Moody highlighted the battle to secure Gibraltar’s inclusion in European Single Sky measures and the continued delays at the border as two current problems which would be easier to tackle thanks to the presence of an official representation in the Belgian capital.
“We will keep fighting, we will keep on going. I’m looking forward to building the relationship, particularly with the new office here.”
The Gibraltar delegation also met with Danuta Hubner MEP who is the Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
Pics: Top left: Mr Picardo with Alain Lamoussoure. Middle: With Julia Reid. Bottom: With Clare Moody
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