Feb 18 - PDP Condemns Spain’s Decision to Disregard Tax exchange Agreements Signed with Gibraltar
The PDP today notes with regret, but no surprise, that Spain has ‘taken its anti Gibraltar campaign in a new direction by directing, according to the Spanish press, its ambassadors to inform government officials around the world that Spain will not recognise any Tax Exchange Information Agreements signed with Gibraltar unless the UK is represented’.
The Party insists that this campaign highlights two important issues, including the fact that Spain is objecting to Gibraltar being internationally recognized as a separate jurisdiction when signing TEIAs. They add that whether any country will refuse to sign an agreement with Gibraltar in the light of Spain’s objection will have to be seen.
They also note that this objection by Spain actually highlights that this is a national government willing to put its anachronistic sovereignty claim over a small territory above the national and global interests of signing these agreements to combat tax evasion and other financial crime.
‘The PDP condemns this new strategy by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and calls on the Gibraltar Government to ensure that all countries still to sign agreements are well informed of the crude political motives in advance in order to avoid any problems’.
