Britain is considering legal action against Spain over the continued imposition of additional checks at the border with Gibraltar, Downing Street said today. A No 10 spokesman said it was looking at the “unprecedented step” after the Spanish government failed to lift the extra controls over the weekend.
“Clearly the Prime Minister is disappointed by the failure of Spain to remove the additional border checks this weekend. We are now considering what legal action is open to us,” the spokesman said. “This would be an unprecedented step so we want to consider it carefully before a making a decision to pursue.”
The move comes amid a worsening diplomatic row over the construction of an artificial reef by the Gibraltarian authorities which Spain claims will destroy fishing in the area. Madrid responded by beefing up border controls, leading to lengthy queues, and suggesting that a 50 euro (£43.30) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving the British overseas territory through the fenced border with Spain.
Downing Street would not be drawn on what form any legal action would take, but confirmed that it would be done through Europe. The spokesman said they believed the action by the Spanish – who have long challenged British sovereignty of the Rock – was “politically motivated and totally disproportionate” and therefore illegal under British law. “If we go down this route, we will certainly press the EU to pursue the case as a matter of urgency,” the spokesman said.
No 10 thought that David Cameron had won an assurance from the Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy that the controls would be lifted over the weekend when they spoke last week. The spokesman said that was still their understanding of the conversation, even though it was challenged by the Spanish.
Spain will seek to take its dispute with the UK over Gibraltar to the UN with the support of Argentina, according to Spanish media. Spanish foreign minister Jose Garcia-Margallo is expected to propose that both countries present a “united front” over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, El Pais reported. Mr Garcia-Margallo will sound out his Argentinian counterpart, Hector Timerman, during a meeting in Buenos Aires next month as he prepares for a “180 degree turn in policy towards the colony”, the newspaper said.
Such a move would be seen as an escalation in the diplomatic tensions surrounding the overseas territory. Argentina is on a two-year term as non-permanent member of the UN’s Security Council and could potentially use its position to include discussions over Gibraltar on the agenda.
The country’s president, Cristina Kirchner, used a meeting of the council this week to renew demands for talks over the sovereignty of the Falklands. Spain is also considering the possibility of raising the matter of Gibraltar at the UN’s General Assembly or the International Court of Justice at The Hague, diplomatic sources reportedly told El Pais.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “Our policy on Gibraltar has not changed and is consistent with our policy on other overseas territories. Self-determination matters more than territorial integrity. The people of Gibraltar have repeatedly and overwhelmingly expressed their wish to remain under British sovereignty.”
Earlier, thousands of Royal Navy personnel set sail for a training deployment in the Mediterranean. The helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious left Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire, and will join the navy flagship HMS Bulwark, which has sailed from Devonport for the Cougar ’13 operation. Also sailing tomorrow will be HMS Westminster, a Type 23 frigate, which will visit Gibraltar en route. Other UK ships taking part are another type 23 frigate, HMS Montrose, and six Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships.
The vessels will be taking part in what defence officials stressed was a long-scheduled deployment in the Mediterranean and the Gulf.
