Aug 22 - Lib-Dem MEP Criticises Picardo For “Triggering” Spain Crisis
Lib-Dem MEP Andrew Duff has said that the current crisis with Spain was triggered by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo whom he calls “the worst culprit.” Mr Duff, who is a Liberal Democrat MEP for East of England has written in the East Anglian Daily Times that the situation is nothing more than: “A lot of steam...being let off by politicians who should know better.”
He argues that the reef was created “in the middle of the bay” and that Mr Picardo’s decision was a “provocation in disputed waters [which] would draw a strong Spanish reaction.”
Mr Duff continues by stating that there is “good evidence” of smuggling and money laundering in Gibraltar “so strict border checks are wholly reasonable.”
He also goes on to criticise Mr Picardo’s comparison of Spain with North Korea calling it “insulting nonsense.”
Mr Duff concludes his article by hinting that a possible solution to the border problems would be to negotiate for Gibraltar to join Schengen so that “the petty nationalists would be deprived of their soap box.”
The full text is here: http://andrewduff.eu/en/article/2013/714961/goodbye-to-the-gibraltar-problem
