The Governments of the United Kingdom and of all UK Overseas Territories have declared that they will continue to support the people of Gibraltar and have urged the Spanish Government to de-escalate tensions with Gibraltar, including at the border and within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

This declaration has come in a statement issued during a meeting in London of the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) between the UK and Overseas Territory Governments, which is currently being attended by the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia who has been joined today by the Minister for Health and the Environment Dr John Cortes.

The meeting also reiterated the commitment of the United Kingdom and the Territories to continue to build a modern relationship based on partnership, shared values and the principle of self-determination. The Governments have added that the people of each Territory have the right to choose whether or not their Territory should remain a British Overseas Territory or to seek an alternative future.

The declaration in the statement highlights the fact that the right to self-determination is enshrined in the UN Charter. It further restates the view that ‘the people of all Overseas Territories have a right to determine their own futures, to decide on the path that they wish to take and to maintain freely their constitutional link with the UK if that is their choice.’

The Governments present have confirmed that any decision to break the constitutional link with UK should be on the basis of the clear and constitutionally expressed wish of the people of the Territory and have stressed that the UN Decolonisation Committee should delist Territories where this is their wish. The UK Government has also committed to complete constitutional modernisations so that Territories have the greatest self- government possible.

The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia said from London that the Government was very grateful for the support that the people of Gibraltar have received during this conference from the UK and from other OT Governments. The delegates also welcomed the result of the referendum in the Falkland Islands and the United Kingdom Government said that it stands ready to support any Territory that wishes to have a referendum on its future.