Jun 02 - Malmström Heading To Madrid To Discuss Gibraltar Frontier Problem
In the past few minutes, the EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström has announced via her Twitter account that she is heading to the Spanish capital tomorrow to discuss a number of issues with ministers including the problems at the frontier.
The Commissioner wrote: “To Madrid for a series of meetings tomorrow with ministers and MPs. Will discuss migration, situation in Ceuta/ Melilla, Gibraltar etc”
This follows protests from the United Kingdom and Gibraltar that Spain has done little to implement the recommendations made by the visiting team of technical experts from the Commission to improve frontier flow. Over six months after the visit, the Government of Gibraltar says that it has taken extra measures to combat tobacco smuggling and is pioneering an overhaul of the frontier with electronic barriers and a high-tech number plate recognition system to accurately track border flow.
Queues to leave the Rock for both vehicles and pedestrians continue to affect the daily lives of thousands of workers and tourists. In fact, just before Ms Malmström tweeted, the Royal Gibraltar Police was warning that only 18 cars had entered Spain in 30 minutes.
