Jun 09 - Feetham’s “Ill-Judged Comments” Are Again Circulating In Brussels – Number Six
The Government says that, on 4th May, it drew attention to the fact that two Partido Popular MEPs had tabled a question in the European Parliament which made use of the arguments lodged against the new power station by the Leader of the Opposition.
The Government says it took a very serious view back then of the fact that what it considered to be Mr Feetham’s “irresponsible and ill-founded comments” were being used by the PP as ammunition against Gibraltar in Europe.
Number Six now says that “mis-judged comments” of Mr Feetham have once again been aired in Brussels as the European Commission, having studied the matter, has published its ruling that there is no legislation requiring a Member State to inform the Commission on its detailed energy projects. The Commission adds that the safety assessment of a project is the sole responsibility of the Member State without any assessment of the Commission.
Thus, says the Government, Mr Feetham's “irresponsibility” has entangled an internal issue, the proposed LNG project, with the completely separate issue of the Spanish sovereignty claim. Spain's ruling Partido Popular, argues the Government, has used Mr Feetham’s arguments against Gibraltar, in Brussels, “in an attempt to instigate European intervention in Gibraltar’s internal affairs”.
The Government says that, despite its best efforts at building confidence in Brussels, Mr Feetham “has again provided the perfect platform for Spain to criticise Gibraltar in the European Commission” adding that, whilst the Government is defending Gibraltar against attacks on various fronts, Mr Feetham “is intentionally providing the ammunition for our opponents to fire.”
‘Mr Feetham’s irresponsible and self-serving comments, raised for his local political purposes, have been turned against Gibraltar as a whole,’ said the Chief Minister. ‘As it turns out, all the Government’s consistent efforts in Europe over the past few years have resulted in the European Commission seeing through the PP’s attempt to use Mr Feetham’s words as an excuse to interfere in our internal affairs and we welcome the Commission’s ruling that Gibraltar has sovereignty over our own power generation. This is nonetheless just one example of how Mr Feetham's irresponsibility can damage Gibraltar. His constant denigration of the Gibraltar Savings Bank and our economy and public finances is allowing our enemies to wring their hands with glee. Next he is going to try to stop Gibraltar from relying on the best fuel for power generation AND trying to stop us from entering the LNG bunkering market, thereby killing-off bunkering as an industry for the future when it will likely be entirely based around LNG bunkering. Mr Feetham really is turning into a wrecker of the worst sort. His scorched earth policy is transparent but no less dangerous to our Community as a whole. I guess even he will realise that he is not covering himself in glory if he is being quoted with approval by Partido Popular grandees in Brussels. He is behaving as the perfect stooge for our enemies. I expect, nonetheless, that he is not going to listen to reason and I have no doubt he will lead the grubbiest election campaign in generations in the coming months. People are now expecting little else from him. Scare tactics and sheer negativity seem to be all he has left!’
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