Dec 21 - GSD: EU's Brexit Negotiation Mandate Is "Unacceptable And Unfair" For Gibraltar

The GSD says the issue by the EU of a negotiating mandate yesterday to the effect that any extension of a transitional deal to Gibraltar should be subject to bilateral agreement between the UK and Spain is unacceptable at several levels.

A statement from the party read: "First we are EU citizens that voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU and should not be used as pawns in a political game by the EU and Spain. The rights of peoples are a paramount consideration. Secondly it is unacceptable to subject Gibraltar to further bilateralism between the UK and Spain.

"For many years we have proclaimed that the future of Gibraltar or matters affecting Gibraltar should not be negotiated between the UK and Spain and certainly not without the participation of our Government.

"Thirdly it is unacceptable in principle for there to be a negotiation with Spain as to whether it agrees to extend a transitional deal or a new Trade Treaty (in future) to Gibraltar. This exposes the UK and therefore Gibraltar to have conditions placed on the extension of beneficial Treaty arrangements that are unfair and unacceptable."

GSD Leader Keith Azopardi said: “The Government needs to continue to put political pressure on the United Kingdom Government – directly and through our friends in the UK Parliament to eliminate this threat. We also need to obtain clear undertakings from the UK Government that any beneficial transitional deal struck will apply to Gibraltar unconditionally. The statements by Mrs May so far have fallen short of clear undertakings. Yesterday she said that the UK “would not exclude Gibraltar from our negotiations for the implementation period or the future agreement.” Not excluding us from the “negotiations” is not the same as saying that any beneficial agreement would be unconditionally extended to Gibraltar if that is the wish of the Gibraltar Government. Finally Gibraltar must participate in the shaping and negotiation of such arrangements as they affect Gibraltar. Nothing less is acceptable. Arrangements affecting Gibraltar cannot be negotiated by the UK without involving Gibraltar and cannot be entered into without the consent of the Gibraltar Government.

“Any beneficial transitional arrangements should unconditionally extend to Gibraltar. We have been warning Government about this. As we said only last week the Government needs to be alive to the dangers in these talks and ensure it is kept fully abreast of developments. It is also important it is guaranteed a seat at the table at technical and political talks involving Gibraltar. We need to be careful that any arrangements that are discussed work for Gibraltar and guarantee freedom of movement and our fundamental rights and are only entered into with our consent.“

Mr Azopardi wrote to the Chief Minister for a briefing on Brexit and offering cross-party support on BREXIT last week. He is scheduled to meet the Chief Minister on 9 January 2018. The Brexit Select Committee of Parliament was briefed yesterday by the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia.

He added: “Apart from being briefed on the state of the talks with the UK I will reiterate our offer of cross-party support on this issue. It is up to Government how it wishes to conduct its discussions with UK and the EU but of course cross-party consensus will only really be possible if we fully participate in these discussions.

"The GSD administration of Sir Peter Caruana did that with the then Opposition during the process of constitutional talks. This is as much a serious challenge for Gibraltar. We are ready to work with Government in the wider interests of Gibraltar if invited to fully participate. Casual briefings from time to time are welcome of course but they do not allow the GSD any proper ability to influence the discussions and would clearly be insufficient in terms of achieving any possibility of a comprehensive united front.”

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