Jul 05 - Chief Minister Reassures Spanish Workers Unions About Importance Of Freedom Of Movement Through The Border
The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia met with the regional representatives of the main Spanish trade unions in Andalucia.
Paco Carbonero of Comisiones Obreras and Carmen Castillo of UGT met in the Chief Minister’s officer yesterday afternoon, together with a delegation from Unite.
The Chief Minister made the point very clearly that freedom of movement through the border was just as important to the neighbouring region of Spain as it is to Gibraltar.
The union representatives reaffirmed their commitment to Gibraltar, saying that they will be putting forward their argument in favour of Gibraltar to the heads of their unions and politicians in Madrid, as well as Brussels.
Speaking to YGTV after the meeting, Mr Picardo said: “I think it’s a very positive meeting, and the unions in the region understand just how important Gibraltar is to them economically to their members and to the whole region, I think they have enjoyed understanding the Gibraltar Government’s point of view of where things are going, of how things can be shaped.
“I think they have left with a very clear impression that Gibraltar, its people and its parliament will not be an issue to their continued free movement across that frontier and their continued access to the Gibraltar job market.
“The only thing that is potentially going to be a problem is the Spanish foreign affairs minister’s continued obsession with Gibraltar and his insistence that if we want to continue free movement and access to the free market, we’re going to have to pay a sovereignty price – he knows, the whole of Spain knows, and the whole of the world knows that Gibraltar will never pay that price. “
There are an estimated ten thousand people who live in Spain and work in Gibraltar, the majority of whom are Spanish or EU nationals.
Gibraltar, as a whole, is the second largest employer for the region of Andalucia, after the Junta, its regional Government.
Independent research produced for the Chamber of Commerce has shown that Gibraltar was responsible for generating 25% of the GDP (£847m) of the neighbouring region of Spain.
The Chief Minister told the Union leaders that Gibraltar wanted to continue its relationship with the European Union even in the event of a potential UK exit. This was the democratic mandate given to the Government by 96% of the voting electorate in Gibraltar.
The meeting was very positive and constructive. The Spanish Unions understood and shared the concerns expressed by Gibraltar and pledged to uphold the principle of freedom of movement for frontier workers, residents and tourists.
{fcomment}
