Jul 15 – Cross Frontier Group Sets Out Objectives
A year and half after it was set up, the Cross Frontier Group (CFG), which is made up of Trade Unions and Business organisations from Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, has consolidated its position by setting out its objectives. The document establishes a code of conduct as well as its organisational structure.
John Isola of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce and Ángel Serrano, of the Spanish union UGT, have been named as President and Vice President of the Group’s Committee. They will act as spokespersons for Gibraltar and Spain respectively. Inma Ortega, of the Spanish trade union, CCOO, and Stuart Borastero, from the Gibraltar trade union, GTA/NASUWT, have been named Secretary and Vice Secretary respectively and complete the list of office bearers who will be responsible for conducting the Cross Frontier Group’s business.
The office bearers, who will be responsible for the day to day workings of group, will rotate between the members of the Group for a period of six months, as is set out in the Code of Conduct which recently was approved by the Group and whose primary objective is to consolidate and build on the Group’s achievements to date.
The Group was established in January last year to unify the actions of business organisations and trade unions from both sides of the frontier in the heat of all the issues encountered at the border crossing which were causing serious economic and social problems for both communities.
The Cross Frontier Group has reflected on the positive results of its actions since it was established and has decided to formalise its structure which will allow it to expand its activities with ‘the main aim of defending the interests of citizens on both sides of the frontier firm in its conviction that dialogue and cooperation are paramount for the socio-economic development of both communities, this being essential for a relationship between two territories that from part of the European Union’ as set out in the document which has been signed by the eight organisations that make up the Group..
In addition to the promotion of socio-economic cooperation, the Cross Frontier Group says it wishes to enter into a dialogue with private institutions and governmental organisations to reinforce the value of innovation and human resources and the improvement of the quality of life of the population through common strategies.
The approved document outlines areas of interest which will concentrate on issues such as competitiveness, innovation, employment, training, tourism, culture, access, logistics, international and cross frontier cooperation, amongst others.
Another issue on which the Cross Frontier Group has been working on and which it would like to research further is the setting up of a ‘European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation’ (EGTC) between Gibraltar and the Campo region which is something which is working in other areas of the European Union and which the Group considers to be a positive step for the development of the region.
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