An article appeared in Spanish publication Europa Sur on the 20th April stating that the EU Agency Frontex had recently criticised the lack of cooperation by the Gibraltar authorities and the difficulties in patrolling the area of the Straits of Gibraltar because “it is under British control”.

Frontex is an EU agency responsible for coordinating external borders with the different EU member countries.

Frontex was contacted by the Royal Gibraltar Police and have now confirmed that the article is indeed misleading and that all that their spokesperson had said was, “it was very difficult to patrol in the Strait of Gibraltar due to the limitations imposed by the aerial maritime law, as it is mandatory to follow the corridors due to the proximity of the Gibraltar airport. He did not say that the difficulties were caused by the Gibraltar authorities.”

The RGP can confirm that they were never contacted by Frontex in order to get a full picture of what happens in the area around Gibraltar and its territorial waters.

The RGP is content that Frontex themselves have now confirmed the inaccuracy of the report which appeared in the Spanish publication Europa Sur.