Jan 18 – Hassan Nahon Presents Community’s Brexit Concerns To Select Committee
Independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon has sent a submission outlining the community’s concerns to the EU Select Committee’s inquiry into the implications of Brexit for Gibraltar.
This follows the representations recently made by the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and the Attorney General in their appearance before the Committee.
Ms Hassan Nahon explained the substance of her submission: “While the Chief Minister and his team staunchly put forward Gibraltar’s case in political and legal terms, I have aimed to portray a human angle that accurately reflects the concerns of the everyday Gibraltarian. The result of the EU Referendum has led to a tense and uncertain time, and many of us are anxious about the impact of Brexit on issues such as the economy, maritime and aviation matters, trade, and, of course, relationships with Spain. There is an evident feeling that Spain may try to exploit Brexit to advance its sovereignty claim, while employing the familiar tactic of using the frontier and freedom of movement as a chokepoint. While we may prize British sovereignty over EU membership, the local vote in the Referendum makes it clear that the UK government must protect Gibraltar’s interests in the negotiations that are taking place.
“As a member of the Gibraltar Parliament, I felt it was my duty to try to communicate this strength of feeling to the Committee, and I hope that my submission will go some way towards doing so. In it, I remind the Committee of the past struggles that we have faced and how strong diplomatic relationships between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom have always helped us to emerge from these in a positive and successful manner. Given the representations that have been made to the Committee, I hope that this will continue to be the case as we face these latest of challenges.”
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