"Spanish "CON Trick" in the Sea's arround Gibralter

Rogerdodger


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
01/06/2009 10:52

A diplomatic battle was looming last night after Spain tricked the EU into handing it new rights to the waters around Gibraltar.

The sleight-of-hand has provoked fury in the British outpost and left red faces in Whitehall.

And it has already produced a potential confrontation between British and Spanish ships in the region.

Repel the invaders: HMS Sabre forced a Spanish warship out of Gibraltar's waters

Spain, which has been challenging British sovereignty on the Rock for 300 years, has now laid claim under an EU 'environmental protection' scheme to most of the 20 square miles of British territorial waters that surround the Gibraltar peninsula .

The Rock has been a key strategic outpost since it was ceded by Spain to Britain in perpetuity under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

The sea surrounding the Rock is designated British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. But the Spanish have convinced the European Commission to include most of it in a new environmental zone, to be maintained

cronos


Joined: 26/10/2008
Posts: 2093

Message Posted:
01/06/2009 10:54

Stand by for the usual jingoistic chest beating from those who still think we have an Empire.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
01/06/2009 12:40

Once again the EU demonstrating what an arse it is, not that anyone involved with TRNC is unaware of that.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
01/06/2009 14:09

That's it then - off to war on the P&O ferry yet again!



As an aside tho this riveting and world shaking story, how can the EU control water? Has it now got the overall authority to stop the tides and make the water that try's to escape into the Atlantic or that which trickles through into the Med stay where it is so it can control it. Stupid idea of course - BUT - maybe it means that the EU only has control over the surface area - now that will be fun for the Spannish submarines won't it.



Long live the Raj I say - pshaw!

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
02/06/2009 17:44

Great chance to get the benidorm brigade to boycot the place and come to TRNC instead.



On second thoughts keep all mouths shut, dont tell them anything, the place is awful and very expensive.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
02/06/2009 17:59

Now let me think, I wonder what spurred Spain on to come up with a plan to use the EU laws to get round a political impasse?

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
02/06/2009 18:58

Blame Gordon Brown he gets blamed for everything else.If it was me in charge i would give it them back.Save us a few Billion every year,same as the Falklands give it back to Argies...

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
02/06/2009 19:25

You don't happen to know just how many billions of £'s worth of oil and other mineral deposits there are around the Falklands by any chance? May not be financially viable to extract right now but certainly will be in the future. If you think the UK has held on to the islands for sentimental reasons, think again.

Rogerdodger


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
02/06/2009 20:10

Giving spain back will never happen 98.5% of Gibalterains whant to stay British, and so it should be, as for the Falklands, again that will never happen, too many lives lost in the past for to protect the Falklands, you cannot put the cost on a life, people died to protect the Falklands.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
02/06/2009 20:57

Hector..If there billions of dollars of oil there I couldnt give a damn .We got naff all out the North Sea oil so why should the Falklands be any different.I have not seen any info any where to suggest this might be the case. Just a bit of political bull as far as I am concerned.I dont think the Argies would be letting it go that easy if there was anything there..If there might be any oil We will have spent what its worth looking after the place.



Rodgerdodger..I agree too many lives lost protecting it.Should not have been one life lost.Still think it should be given back to the Argies,let them foot the bill..It is of absolutely no strategic importance whatsoever,same as Gib.The strategic importance of Gib finished after the second world war,so why have that cost around our necks.We soon pulled out of Malta after the second world war finished and numerous other places.We no longer have an Empire to protect,so lets look after the people in the UK and let the others look after themsel

littlejohn


Joined: 09/03/2009
Posts: 316

Message Posted:
03/06/2009 00:02

We didn't pull out of Malta! As I remember Dom Mintoff kicked us out or "requested we leave" but the Maltese still love us and they are lovely people!!