Gibraltar is confident that the incidents that Spain is complaining about will not affect the negotiation of the post-Brexit agreement

The Government of the Rock reaffirms British sovereignty over the waters in which the events occurred

MADRID, 30 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Government of Gibraltar has responded to Spain's complaint about various incidents that occurred in waters close to the Rock, reaffirming that they are British and not Spanish sovereignty, while trusting that these events do not affect the ongoing negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU for the agreement that will govern the relationship with this enclave after Brexit.

"The Government of Gibraltar has no doubts about the British sovereignty of the waters surrounding Gibraltar", Fabian Picardo's Executive stressed in a statement, defending that "unnecessary incidents in them must be avoided, since they pose a risk to the crews of the vessels involved".

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a verbal note this Monday to the British Embassy in Madrid to transfer its "strong protest" for three "serious incidents" that occurred during the month of August in waters that Spain claims as its own around Gibraltar.

In its statement, the Gibraltarian Executive refutes two of these events in particular: the harassment suffered by an Andalusian fishing boat and the spill made by a methane tanker during a bunkering operation by another ship.

Thus, he argues that "issues related to illegal fishing have long been a point of contention, since Gibraltar has a stricter environmental protection standard than Spain when it comes to the use of nets and fishing drag".

It also maintains that the Gibraltarian regulations in terms of fuel supply are one of those with "the highest international standards."

The Gibraltarian Government has taken the opportunity to ensure that it maintains its commitment to "achieving a satisfactory result for all parties" in the ongoing negotiation on the treaty that will regulate the relationship between the Rock and the EU now that the United Kingdom has left the bloc.

"The recent series of incidents should not have any effect on those positive negotiations that are awaiting the result of the investiture of a new government in Spain," he said.

The electoral advance in Spain caused the momentary paralysis of the negotiations between London and Brussels, which have been going on for more than two years. The Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, has defended in recent months that the ball is in the court of London after a proposal was sent from Spain and the EU that he considers the best option to establish the zone of shared prosperity that they yearn for Madrid and London.