Jul 24 - "Disgraceful" Border Queues To Be Reported To EU

The Government has said last night’s disgraceful scenes at the frontier will be included in its imminent report to the European Commission. In temperatures above 35 degrees, there were long queues of pedestrians stretching back almost to the Eroski supermarket.

A Government spokesman said that whilst the Spanish authorities may claim that they were merely testing new security equipment at the frontier, the Gibraltar Government will stress that the equipment was being tested just at the time which would cause the maximum disruption. The main impact of the delays was on persons who work in Gibraltar and who live in Spain, including many thousands of Spanish workers who commute in and out of Gibraltar every day, as well on people coming to Gibraltar on a tourism visit or on business.

They added consequence of the new systems being conducted by the Spanish authorities on pedestrians was felt particularly strongly by the elderly, young children and disabled persons on wheelchairs who were made to wait to cross the border from Gibraltar into Spain.

The Government’s report will be accompanied by photographs of last night’s queues.

The Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon Dr Joseph Garcia said: "Our next report will draw the European Commission’s attention to the manner in which the Spanish government is implementing the recommendations made by the Commission. The effect of this action seems to be designed to cause as much disruption as possible."

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