In a statement released yesterday evening, the Gibraltar Government has condemned the Spanish Minister for the Interior, Jorge Fernandez Diaz for his comments claiming that Gibraltar does not tackle tobacco smuggling, tax evasion and money laundering. 

The statement insists that Gibraltar’s laws against tobacco smuggling are tougher than Spain’s, as the Rock has transposed, implemented and fully complies with all EU directives against money laundering. The No 6 statement continued, ‘the reality is that it is Spain that does not want to sign a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with Gibraltar, and not the other way round.

It is clear that the present Partido Popular Government of Spain has no interest in the truth or in cooperating with Gibraltar. They seem intent only in pursuing a policy of hostility and confrontation, which is reflected in almost every public statement that they make.’