Rock of contention. Stand there Gibraltar before the wind of change Brexit
GIBRALTAR (UK) — LA LINEA (SPAIN), 13 Jun — RIA Novosti, Yelena Shesternina. Negotiating the terms of a British exit from the European Union to begin June 19, and they are not going to discuss the issue, which directly concerns tens of thousands of residents are still “United Europe” — the fate of Gibraltar, the only overseas territory of the UK, which is part of the EU.
“Symbolic” fence, which can be a real
Spanish three-band red-yellow-red flag. A few dozen meters from him waving the British Union Jack. Between the symbols of two States — border. The border, which after British exit from the EU could become a real headache for Europe.
Tens of thousands of people and hundreds of cars cross every day the border with Gibraltar, which Spain like to call “the fence” (verja). “Live” the line moves quickly — people with open passports or identity cards first pass through the Spanish border point, then through the British.
In rare cases, the guards stopped travelers — often Russian. Without UK visa or multiple entry Schengen Russian tourists from Spain to Gibraltar can’t get in.
From tens of thousands of people who daily cross the border 12 thousand inhabitants of Spain, working in Gibraltar.
The vast majority of them live in the border town of La linea de La Concepcion, one of the poorest in the country.
Here, the unemployment rate exceeds 30%, and Gibraltar are often the only opportunity to find work. A possible change of the border regime after the British exit from the EU could become a disaster for the city’s debt has reached 160 million euros, and to pay the need for 22 years.
“In Gibraltar unemployment is 3%, and here 33%. This difference in income is on the border there across the EU. Now we have more than 8500 unemployed people among the working population, but during the crisis reached 11 thousand. Cross the border every day more than ten thousand people, most of them live in La linea. And it is not only the Spaniards, in our city there are many foreigners — mainly British, Moroccans, poles, Romanians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Turks, there are Russian,” — said the mayor of La linea Juan Franco.
City hall is just a ten minute walk from the border.
Forthcoming Brexit for the Spanish Comarca of Campo de Gibraltar, where there are 250 thousand people and 25% of GDP, which is income from economic ties with Gibraltar, could become “like a disaster and opportunity,” the mayor said.
It depends on what happens in Madrid, London and Brussels about this small land boundary with a length of 1.2 kilometers, and whether Madrid to invest in the border region.
Campo de Gibraltar — the poorest Spanish region. The government should open their eyes and see what’s going on here. Maybe Madrid should realize that one of the ways to return to Gibraltar under Spanish sovereignty, to invest here, to create such conditions that the people of Gibraltar wanted to become part of Spain.Juan Frankoma La Linea
However, residents of Gibraltar are unlikely to want to become Spanish citizens. Twice, in 1967 and 2002, on the referendum they have clearly stated that it is not going to change their current status of British subjects and go fully or partially under Spanish sovereignty.
For the British in Gibraltar in 1967 voted 99,64% of the population, 35 years later, 98,97%.
In 1967, for the Gibraltarians is turned into a blockade, announced by the Spanish government of dictator Francisco Franco. Gibraltar was completely cut off from the land — was closed border, interrupted by a phone and mail, there are separated families on different sides of the border.
To get to Spain, the inhabitants of Gibraltar had two options — either to go to London, and then return to Spain, or sail on the ferry to the Moroccan Tangier, and thence by sea to the Spanish port of Algeciras. The blockade fully lifted only in 1985, ten years after Franco’s death — when the socialist government of Felipe Gonzalez.
“Many faced a choice — to stay with family or keep a job. It was only 30 years ago! In Europe! In just a few years before the fall of the Berlin wall! The symbol of the closed border was here,” says the Executive Director of the chamber of Commerce of Gibraltar Edward Macquisten.
All of these measures have been taken Franco to humiliate Gibraltar, and it didn’t work. It didn’t work then and certainly won’t work now.Edward Marquettelaan Director of the chamber of Commerce of Gibraltar
Border after a Brexit, of course, no one will close, but to change the mode of crossing the “fence” of Spanish and British authorities may well. This will return the queue for hours, that have been here a few years ago.
“When we started to work, waiting in queues reached three to four hours. We then complained to Brussels, in the British Parliament, the Parliament of Andalusia. The queue was not accidental — it was all triggered with clear political objectives. In the result, the Spanish government has introduced a number of measures that have helped to partly solve the problem. However, until now, of the machines that carry goods from Spain to Gibraltar, queues, albeit not as long as before,” says Manolo Triano, President of the Transboundary group, which includes companies, business associations, trade unions on both sides of the border.
View Of Gibraltar
This group is now trying to bring to Madrid, Brussels and London, the business position and all the inhabitants of the border region: new problems at the border will not only be a disaster for Campo de Gibraltar, but will create a huge problem in the Gibraltar. Half of the people that work there — those Spaniards and citizens of other countries who live in border Spanish region, and 95% of the goods it receives Gibraltar from Spain.
“A region with a historical point of view was very affected by the political ideas of “joint sovereignty”, no one paid any attention to social problems, economic. Given the current unemployment rate, imagine what would happen if you close the border, you will lose thousands of jobs in Gibraltar,” warns Triano.
The war of words and flags
Spain is once again actively started talking about “joint sovereignty” immediately after the results of the referendum on the British exit from the European Union in June last year. It understandably 96% of the inhabitants of Gibraltar, who took part in the vote (the turnout was very high — 84%), voted that the United Kingdom remained part of the United Europe.
Such number of votes “for” there was nowhere else in Britain.
The day after the announcement of the results holding then a post of the Spanish foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-margallo said that “the Spanish flag is now much closer to Gibraltar,” and the best way for that territory if it wants to remain part of the EU would be “joint sovereignty” of Spain and the UK. Over time, according to Margalit, Gibraltar needs to go fully under the control of the Spanish crown.
Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo said Spanish Minister to the effect that “Spain will never run hand in Gibraltar”.
“I will not run the hand, a flag, and a lot sooner than Picardo is,” retorted Margalit.
A few compatriots margallo y Marfil has decided not to restrict the words, and got down to business — they literally hoisted Spanish flag on the Rock.
“It happened just before the referendum. Go and see a huge flag on the slope. 18 meters. Can you imagine? I thought I fell asleep at the wheel and me the dream” — says local resident Brian, then he uses a strong Spanish word that in literary Russian can be translated as “bad people”.
The flag stayed on the Rock for long — 20 minutes.
Violators were detained by the police. They were members of the Spanish right party Vox.
Phone booth in Gibraltar
The controversy with new force has inflamed in the spring of this year — after the Brussels sided with Spain in the dispute.
First, the EU stated that the negotiations about the UK’s exit from the European Union the question of Gibraltar separately will not be discussed. That is, the Gibraltar leave the European Union along with the rest of Britain — without any reservations or additional conditions. Second, in Brussels, gave a carte Blanche of Spain: Madrid will have the right to veto the extension to Gibraltar of any agreements that will be able to reach London after the British-European “divorce”.
Fabian Picardo has called the President of the European Council Donald Tusk “deceived husband, when divorce rips the children.”
“Now you see how difficult it is to get a divorce!”, — said the head of the Gibraltar office, Dutch foreign Minister Bert Koenders (Bert Koenders).
More warlike statements were made from London. The British defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the country will defend the Gibraltarians “by any means”. Former conservative leader Michael Howard went even further, he threatened that Britain is ready to defend the interests of Gibraltar including through military means, as was the case with the Falklands.
Howard recalled that the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher “has sent a task force half way around the world to protect the freedom of a small group of Britons from different Spanish-speaking countries”, and expressed confidence that the current Prime Minister Theresa may “will show the same resolve in protecting the people of Gibraltar”.
In the same spirit there were articles in the British press. The tabloid Sun came out on the front page with the title Hands Off our Rock (Hands off our Rocks) and a photo of a Rock painted in the colors of the British flag.
Love the “Hands off our Rock” poster
Gibraltar like the Falklands belongs to ?? pic.twitter.com/itf3VEoM5X
— Daniel Stow (@DanielStow) 4 APR 2017
In the midst of the conflict the government of Gibraltar declared “illegal invasion” of the Spanish patrol ship Infanta Cristina in British territorial waters. The Spanish foreign Ministry said that “the illegal invasion” was not, and the ship was in Spanish territorial waters.
The fact that Spain does not recognize the rights of great Britain in the waters around Gibraltar because they were not mentioned in the Utrecht peace Treaty of 1713. In the tenth article of that Treaty stated that Spain gave Britain “the full and undivided possession of the town and castle of Gibraltar together with the port, arms and fortifications”. In the contract there are no maps or descriptions of the territories, and gives the London and Madrid in different ways to interpret it.
However, in recent times the passion subsided. The current Minister of foreign Affairs of Spain Alfonso Dastis States that Gibraltar should be part of the British delegation at the negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, “the Gibraltar question” should not be “the defining theme of the talks” and that although Spain does not withdraw its proposal for joint sovereignty, but did “not impose”.
“Albion” in the Iberian Peninsula
In the morning on the Rock, which from the Iberian Peninsula are joined by a small isthmus, lowered haze — it seemed that nature itself reminds us that it is the territory of “Foggy Albion”.
From the border to the city is the Avenue Winston Churchill. It crosses the runway — if there plane lands, turn on red light for pedestrians and cars.
The airport was built during the Second world war, opened in 1949. In 2000-ies have agreed that the terminal, built on the British side, will be completed in Spanish to people in Spain were able to use the airport without having to cross the border. However, the plans remained unfulfilled.
Now here sit down and take off only a few planes a day — flight is only in the UK and Morocco, no aircraft to the Spanish cities does not fly.
All names of streets, shops, institutions of Gibraltar in English. According to the Constitution the only official language.
In fact, locals speak their own language yanito (llanito, of the inhabitants of the Rock called llanitos). It is a peculiar mix of English and Spanish with a strong Andalusian accent, but it has a borrowing from Italian, Portuguese, Maltese, Hebrew.
Gibraltar — territory migrants. After Spain lost it at the beginning of the eighteenth century, many indigenous people left in the Campo de Gibraltar. Instead, this area of only 6.8 square kilometers settled immigrants from around the Mediterranean.
Gibraltar magot is the unofficial symbol of the area.
The Executive Director of the chamber of Commerce of Gibraltar Edward Macquisten shows on the hanging wall of the office list of presidents of the chamber of Commerce of Gibraltar, 1882. “Look, here, English, Spanish, and Italian and French names,” he says.
On the Rock for several centuries peacefully coexist with the British, Spaniards, Italians, Jews, Portuguese, Maltese and many others — people of absolutely different origin and religion. At a distance of one hundred meters you can find mosque, synagogue, Catholic Cathedral, Anglican Church, Scottish Church and a Hindu temple. The vast majority of Gibraltarians want to remain citizens of the “United Europe”, but did not seek to become Spanish subjects.
Illegal migrants in Gibraltar no — despite the fact that from the Cliff in good weather Africa visible to the naked eye, it’s only 20 kilometers. To sail to Gibraltar make sense for them not to cross the border with Spain without documents. Over the past five years there was only one case when the banks approached the boat Africans.
Red telephone booth, against which love to be photographed by tourists, sometimes come across double-Decker buses, boxes, Royal mail, police, number of machines — front white, rear yellow, the currency is the pound, although the Gibraltar equal at the exchange rate of the pound sterling. All the evidence suggests that this area of the UK.
However, the President was here only once — in may of 1954.
“On this spot Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh stood and looked at Gibraltar during their visit to the Rock may 10-11, 1954,” reads the inscription on the plate set on the mountain.
The Queen’s visit took place at the 250-th anniversary of the capture of Gibraltar in response, the government of Spain closed its Consulate and has imposed restrictions on freedom of movement between Gibraltar and Spain. More Queen did not appear here — in contrast to other members of the British Royal family.
The head of state in Gibraltar is the Governor, from January 2016, this position is the senior officer of the Royal Marines Edward Davis. There is the mayor, who is appointed by the Parliament, but it’s purely ceremonial. Now it is Miss World 2009 (the only winner of this contest is originally from Gibraltar) Kayan, Aldorino.
In the conduct of the British authorities are only the foreign policy, security and defence of Gibraltar (in this strategic region located British military base and the port regularly visit military ships and submarines of the NATO countries). All questions of internal policy of the Gibraltarians to decide. In elections to the British Parliament, they do not participate, but elected its own Parliament, in which 17 deputies. Here its own government, its own Constitution, its own courts and its own tax system.
What will happen to the business if Brexit
Low taxes (in Gibraltar, no VAT and low income tax — for most companies — 10% for companies in the field of gambling 11%) attract business mainly in the field of Finance, insurance, online gaming, online sales. Because of the low taxes Spain considers Gibraltar offshore zone, however, the local authorities with this definition strongly disagree: Gibraltar has signed an international agreement for automatic exchange of financial information.
A solid income in Gibraltar the budget brings bunkering — the refuelling of ships in the port.
“Today the public sector accounts for only ¼ of the economy of Gibraltar, thirty years ago, it reached¾. This change became possible due to the fact that we are part of Europe and enjoyed the freedom that came with EU membership. The economy of Gibraltar would develop, if the border was not open, if people could not freely come and go,” says Macquisten.
For ten years the increase in new jobs 50% — from 16 thousand to 27 thousand. “This growth is not anywhere else in Europe. Most European economies are moving in the opposite direction. Gibraltar fulfilled many of the ideas which underpin the European project,” says Executive Director of the chamber of Commerce of Gibraltar.
He is outraged that the European Union went on about the “Spanish lobby” and calls the position of the EU leadership — the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and “other people in Brussels” — “a slap in the face to residents of Gibraltar, who were active supporters of the European project.”
“The people of Gibraltar were disappointed, even angered by the European Commission, which has announced that it will support Spain, and that Gibraltar will be excluded (from discussions with the UK out of the EU). Yes, it’s a small town, where live 30 thousand people. He compared to the 450 millions of Europeans? But it’s hard to find a city in the EU, which would have supported the idea of the European project. That’s why 96% of residents voted for (the UK remaining in the EU). We believed in the European project, thought he was good for Gibraltar, for Spain, for Europe,” said Macquisten.
However, the Executive Director of the chamber of Commerce I am sure that even with bad coincidence of Gibraltar will be able to continue to develop successfully. “We are not going to sit and wait for that the Spaniards will do. Yes, we produce nothing, we have no natural resources, we have oil, gold or something else.
The online of Gibraltar and trading mindset, looking for opportunities and ways of its implementation.
All traders in the world know that if the market is under threat of closure in order to survive, we must look for other markets. This is what will the people of Gibraltar. If not allowed to trade with Europe, be it financial services or real estate, they will find another five, six, seven new markets outside Europe. We have a great survival instinct,” he says.
Recently about the closure of its office in Gibraltar said the betting company Paddy Power Betfair.
And though its management says that the departure is not related to Brexit is considered the “first signal”. Local authorities rushed to reassure the business: “regardless of how a Brexit may affect Gibraltar, the government will ensure that their procedures for licensing and regulation, to ensure that our jurisdiction remains the best for remote gambling”.
Macquisten not in a hurry to make predictions. “It is too early to say which companies will stay and which will go. Some companies can go as much focused on the EU. But many companies in the field of online gaming or Finance is both a license in other countries. Perhaps they transferred to the part of the staff, but to fully transfer the business to another country is too expensive,” he said.
The Deputy chief Minister of Gibraltar, Joseph John Garcia in an interview with RIA Novosti said that no negative consequences after last year’s referendum on the British exit from the EU was not.
“The economy of Gibraltar continues to grow, we continue to receive requests for the issuance of licenses to legal entities who want to work in Gibraltar. In this regard, after the decision on withdrawal from the EU the negative consequences were not. Our analysis showed that more than 90% of our business in the financial services industry is associated with the Kingdom and not the European Union. Britain guaranteed that at least the current level of access to the British market will remain. This helped to assure producers that nothing will change,” he said.
However not everybody is so optimistic. “Here were going to build the new complex — houses, hotels — now from-for Brexit, it is unclear what will happen”, — the representative of the tourist Board of Gibraltar Azopardi Elka (Elka Azzopardi) shows the vacant land on the slope. “But you know, there is a saying in English — “We’ll cross this bridge when we come to it,” she adds.
The road to the bridge will not take much time: in March 2019, the UK is officially out of the EU and Gibraltarians will cease to be EU citizens.
***
Before entering the cave of St. Michael, the largest of the more than one hundred caves in the Rocks — tourists take pictures of monkeys kind of magot.
There is a belief that Gibraltar will remain British as long as alive at least one magot.
During the Second world war, when the Rock is only seven monkeys, Prime Minister Winston Churchill immediately ordered to bring macaques from Morocco. Today with a population of 240 individuals.
Source: AP 2017