The Government says it notes, “with disappointment”, the European Parliament’s objection, today, to the entry into force of the European Commission’s decision to remove certain jurisdictions, including Gibraltar, from the EU’s list of ‘high-risk’ third-countries with strategic deficiencies as regards anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (“AML/CFT”).
Sitting before the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee this week, Foreign Secretary William Hague was quizzed on the Committee’s recent visit to Gibraltar. Chairman Sir Richard Ottaway commented on the behaviour of frontier officials at the Gibraltar/ Spain border and its affects on Gibraltar’s economy. He noted that trade was down by 12% and asked Mr. Hague if it was time to review the UK’s policy on the situation ‘and see to what extent we can persuade Spain to adopt a more user-friendly approach towards Gibraltar?’
The Government has said that the GSD are once again attempting to distort facts and mislead by taking statistics provided to parliament last week out of context.
As part of a New Statesman supplement on Gibraltar, Gibraltar Gaming Commissioner Phil Brear has outlined how the UK Government’s proposed ‘Point of Consumption Tax’ will ‘alter licensing arrangements, regulatory arrangement and tax arrangements’.
Speaking to the Publication, Mr. Brear believes that the UK is attempting to form a gaming hub in the country, which could cause fallout for Gibraltar, which currently acts as one of few centres for the industry.