Eurovote /2004 Background

European
Elections
2004

There are a number of parties contesting the 2004 election for Members of the European Parliament.

Only two realistically stand any chance of being elected to National Government in the United Kingdom and controlling UK foreign policy.

These are their stated positions regarding Gibraltar

The Labour Party

The result of the Referendum on the principle of joint sovereignty with Spain held by the Government of Gibraltar on 7 November 2002 came as no surprise.

Many on the Rock do have serious concerns about dialogue with Spain, we understand that and continue to listen seriously to their views. The fact remains however that there can be no stable future for Gibraltar while the dispute with Spain continues and important issues remain unresolved. That is why the last Government established the Brussels process.

We have always made clear that there will be no change to sovereignty without the consent of the people of Gibraltar in a referendum. There are no such proposals on the table. Our aim is to build secure, stable and prosperous Our aim is to build secure, stable and prosperous future for Gibraltar, with greater self-government, the full benefits of normal co-existence with the wider region and a lasting agreement on sovereignty.

Obviously both sides will wish to reflect on the Referendum. The Spanish and UK governments remain in close touch.

The statement made by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in July 2002, indicated broad UK/Spain agreement on the principles that should underpin a lasting settlement.

These principles are that:

Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar;

Gibraltar should have more internal self-government;

Gibraltar should retain its British traditions, customs and way of life;

Gibraltarians should retain the right to British nationality;

Gibraltar should be free to retain its institutions;

Gibraltar could chose to participate fully in the EU Single Market and other EU arrangements.

The Conservative Party

In April 2001 the Government started secret negotiations with Spain to share sovereignty over Gibraltar, despite the fact that the people of Gibraltar are fiercely loyal to the Crown and have made it absolutely clear that they want to remain British.

In November 2002 the people of Gibraltar demonstrated their opposition to the negotiations by voting overwhelmingly in a referendum to remain British.

But the previous Anglo-Spanish agreement in principle to share sovereignty is still on the table. We are totally opposed to that agreement in principle. Sovereignty shared is sovereignty surrendered. We will not surrender British sovereignty.

An incoming Conservative Government will not be bound by any agreement to surrender Gibraltar’s sovereignty which has been reached without the consent of the people of Gibraltar. We will disown this Government’s agreement in principle to share sovereignty with Spain.

We believe that Britain and Spain should now discuss those matters where agreement can be reached.

They do not include the issue of sovereignty.

They should be confined to such issues as better communications, transport links, improved trading relations and improved cooperation on infrastructure projects, for example improvements to Gibraltar’s airport which will be of benefit to both Spain and Gibraltar.

Sources of Information and comment

The Conservative statement is taken from their Manifesto. As the Labour Party material circulated in Gibraltar did not contain any specific party policy statement, the above was requested and supplied from the Labour Party UK HQ.

Shared Sovereignty ? The referendum organised by the Gibraltar Government in 2002 asked one question:
"Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?"
The answer was a massive NO vote. A clear message not to proceed further. An international team of observers reported that this result was democratically obtained. With an 88% electoral turnout, 99% voted against shared sovereignty
Jack Straw persists with the myth that Joint Sovereignty is the way forward. Speaking on the result of the referendum Peter Caruana said that democratically elected politicians ignore this result at their peril.

More
Self-Government ? The Foreign Office website says that currently:
" Gibraltar has a considerable measure of devolved government. The 1969 Gibraltar Constitution Order formalised the devolution to local Ministers of responsibility for a wide range of 'defined domestic matters'. The Governor, the personal representative of HM The Queen, retains direct responsibility for all matters not specifically allocated to local Ministers, and in particular for defence, external affairs, internal security (including the Royal Gibraltar Police) and financial stability."
One might wonder how involving another state in Gibraltar's internal affairs can improve matters. particularly when that state seems hell bent on wrecking the economy.

Freedom to retain our Traditions &
Institutions ? Back in the past that sort of patronising statement might have merited "Yes Bwana" But Peter Hain is not Tarzan, and Gibraltar is not colonial Africa.
These days the response might be "Who exactly wants to take away my freedom, and what is the European court of Human Rights going to say about it"
Freedom can be taken away, rights cannot.

British
Nationality? Gibraltarians already have the right to full British Citizenship under the UK Nationality Act (1981). There is no provision under this act for citizenship lawfully obtained to be withdrawn by the state.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
Article 15

Everyone has the right to a nationality.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Economic
Development? There is no financial aid from the United Kingdom, the FCO website states "UK Development Assistance: None"
The only "problem with the economy" are things caused by deliberate Spanish Government action in pursuit of its outdated territorial claim. Again from the FCO
"Gibraltar's neighbour is Spain. Relations are difficult. Spain creates a number of practical difficulties for Gibraltar. The most obvious of these are the delays at the Spain-Gibraltar frontier. Since a second lane was opened in March 2002 the queues for vehicles exiting Gibraltar have reduced. There are still delays at peak times of day, typically of 20-30 minutes, though sometimes up to an hour or more. Similar delays occur in entering Gibraltar from Spain.
Other difficulties created by Spain include the non-recognition of Gibraltar's territorial waters, airspace and international telephone-dialling code."
If HMG put more effort into removal of these restrictions rather than finding a formula for capitulation, the economy would be sound and the Gibraltarians and their neigbours, who rely on employment in Gibraltar, would prosper.
One of the above party statements supports that view.
The other party states there can be no prosperous future for Gib without Spanish agreement, yet does not consider that Gibraltarians might have any say in that future.

History of the Eurovote | Talking about Gibraltar | General Information | The FCO Website

Shared Sovereignty ?	The referendum organised by the Gibraltar Government in 2002 asked one question: "Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?" The answer was a massive NO vote. A clear message not to proceed further. An international team of observers reported that this result was democratically obtained. With an 88% electoral turnout, 99% voted against shared sovereignty Jack Straw persists with the myth that Joint Sovereignty is the way forward. Speaking on the result of the referendum Peter Caruana said that democratically elected politicians ignore this result at their peril.
More Self-Government ?	The Foreign Office website says that currently: " Gibraltar has a considerable measure of devolved government. The 1969 Gibraltar Constitution Order formalised the devolution to local Ministers of responsibility for a wide range of 'defined domestic matters'. The Governor, the personal representative of HM The Queen, retains direct responsibility for all matters not specifically allocated to local Ministers, and in particular for defence, external affairs, internal security (including the Royal Gibraltar Police) and financial stability." One might wonder how involving another state in Gibraltar's internal affairs can improve matters. particularly when that state seems hell bent on wrecking the economy.
Freedom to retain our Traditions & Institutions ?	Back in the past that sort of patronising statement might have merited "Yes Bwana" But Peter Hain is not Tarzan, and Gibraltar is not colonial Africa. These days the response might be "Who exactly wants to take away my freedom, and what is the European court of Human Rights going to say about it" Freedom can be taken away, rights cannot.
British Nationality?	Gibraltarians already have the right to full British Citizenship under the UK Nationality Act (1981). There is no provision under this act for citizenship lawfully obtained to be withdrawn by the state. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: Article 15 Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Economic Development?	There is no financial aid from the United Kingdom, the FCO website states "UK Development Assistance: None" The only "problem with the economy" are things caused by deliberate Spanish Government action in pursuit of its outdated territorial claim. Again from the FCO "Gibraltar's neighbour is Spain. Relations are difficult. Spain creates a number of practical difficulties for Gibraltar. The most obvious of these are the delays at the Spain-Gibraltar frontier. Since a second lane was opened in March 2002 the queues for vehicles exiting Gibraltar have reduced. There are still delays at peak times of day, typically of 20-30 minutes, though sometimes up to an hour or more. Similar delays occur in entering Gibraltar from Spain. Other difficulties created by Spain include the non-recognition of Gibraltar's territorial waters, airspace and international telephone-dialling code." If HMG put more effort into removal of these restrictions rather than finding a formula for capitulation, the economy would be sound and the Gibraltarians and their neigbours, who rely on employment in Gibraltar, would prosper. One of the above party statements supports that view. The other party states there can be no prosperous future for Gib without Spanish agreement, yet does not consider that Gibraltarians might have any say in that future.