Feb 05 - Gibraltar Air Passenger Rights Amendment Approved in European Parliament
Gibraltar Lib Dem MEP Sir Graham Watson today announced a feat for Gibraltar with an amendment calling for air passenger rights for those flying in and out of Gibraltar, being approved in a debate held in European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Sir Graham claims that the amendment, put forward by him and the European Liberal Group, deletes the clause in the legislation, which previously excluded Gibraltar from air passenger rights. Although the amendment has been approved, it has yet to be passed. Sir Graham stated that the UK Government must now take up the cudgels in the Council to make sure Gibraltar is fully included in the final legislation.
The regulation deals with 'establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights.' It currently includes a clause stating, 'application of this Regulation to Gibraltar airport shall be suspended until the arrangements in the Joint Declaration made by the Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom on 2 December 1987 enter into operation. The Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom will inform the Council of such date of entry into operation.' It was this clause that Sir Graham proposed an amendment for.
Commenting on the matter, Sir Graham explained that this was a victory for Gibraltar and for ‘the equal treatment of all EU citizens’. He added, ‘in Parliament and Council people have been asking “why are we debating a sovereignty dispute when we should be debating passenger rights?” The answer is because this is about the rights of every EU citizen – Gibraltarian, Spanish or other – who uses Gibraltar’s Airport.’
Negotiations between MEPs and national governments will now begin on the final legislation of the regulation.
The Government of Gibraltar has welcomed the amendment.
