Apr 08 - DCM On EU Referendum: The ‘In’ Campaign’s Message “Is Not Scaremongering; It’s Simply A Statement Of Fact” – YGTV Interview (Part Two)
On the 23rd June, Gibraltar, together with the UK, will face a choice which will have profound consequences: whether to remain in or leave the European Union.
Today, in the second part of a two-part interview with the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, YGTV asks whether the campaign to remain in the EU is guilty of scaremongering. For yesterday’s piece, click here.
YGTV: The campaign to remain in the EU has been criticized for scaremongering – what is your response?
Dr Garcia: I think that, from Gibraltar’s point of view, there are very clear and positive messages that can be given as to why we should remain in the European Union. Economically, the access to the single market is very important – for example, our financial services industry can access a market of 520 million Europeans. There’s also the question of freedom of movement which is enshrined in the European treatises as a fundamental freedom. Another area which might seem very obvious is the question of EU funding. Many local businesses benefit from being in the EU and are eligible to receive funding from the EU packages. This only happens if we’re in the EU - it’s not scaremongering, it’s simply a statement of fact. We also have European identity cards which are valid travel documents throughout the entire EU. The health card – which was known as the E111 – provides you with medical treatment in any member state if you go on holiday.
YGTV: What about using the argument that we should vote to remain because of fears about what Spain might do?
Dr Garcia: Anybody who could accuse the remain campaign of scaremongering because of references to Spain or what Spain might do will have their arguments completely destroyed by the comments made in public by the Foreign Minister of Spain who has indicated exactly what it is that Spain would do. Spain says she would immediately seek to re-open the joint sovereignty discussions and there are also very clear statements by officials in the Foreign Ministry who’ve indicated they would consider everything including closing the border. That’s not scaremongering – they’ve said it!
We know that in 2013 Spain looked at closing the border or imposing a toll on people crossing the frontier. Both were stopped by the EU who told Spain that they would be illegal. Once again, this can only happen if you’re an EU member – the Spanish Foreign Minister has indicated that if Gibraltar is not part of the EU, closing the border becomes an option. It cannot be closed if we’re in the EU. Remember that the border closed in 1969 and then re-opened in 1984 and ’85 because Spain wanted to join the EU and there couldn’t be a closed border between two parts of the EU – it’s as simple as that.
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