Feb 18 - Cross Frontier Group Starts Busy Schedule Of Meetings In Brussels
This morning, the Cross Frontier Group (CFG), are attending several meetings in the European Commission, to present their dossier on the issues at the frontier that are affecting workers. The group consists of unions and associations from both Gibraltar and La Linea, including Unite, the Teachers Union NASWUT, the GFSB, UGT (Union General de Trabajadores) and various other associations.
The group is a totally non-political organisation which aims to raise awareness of what is currently happening at the frontier, where workers are being subjected to excessive queues of up to four hours.
Angel Serrano from UGT said that that the group was hoping for an end to or at least a "soothing" of the situation at the frontier. He stressed that the workers weren’t to blame for the situation, yet they were the ones paying the price.
Mr Serrano continued by saying that the EU was the best place for them to come and present their current concerns and, when asked about the cross frontier relations, he said that it was about time such a group was formed and that he hoped that this new CFG would be able to work together on future issues.
The group met yesterday with Henrik Nielsen who headed the EU Commission's visit to the frontier last year. Commenting on the meeting, Victor Gonzalez from the teachers' union in Gibraltar said that "Henrik Nielsen stated very clearly that the case was not closed, that they were still on the case and they would continue to work.”
Today the group continues its busy schedule with meetings with Ms Pyke DG of the Borders unit and MEPs from both UK and Spain. The group will be finishing the day with meetings with Sir Graham Watson MEP and Carmen Romero MEP from the PSOE party in Spain.
