WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3501/96 by Carlos ROBLES PIQUER , Enrique BARÓN CRESPO to the Commission. Visit by Commissioner Gradin to Gibraltar
Date: 1996-12-09
Institutions: BARON CRESPO, European Parliament, ROBLES PIQUER
Subjects: EU relations, Gibraltar, United Kingdom, drug traffic, observer













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91996E3501

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3501/96 by Carlos ROBLES PIQUER , Enrique BARÓN CRESPO to the Commission. Visit by Commissioner Gradin to Gibraltar  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0006 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3501/96 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) and Enrique Barón Crespo (PSE) to the Commission (9 December 1996)Subject: Visit by Commissioner Gradin to GibraltarOn 3 and 4 November 1996 Commissioner Gradin visited the territory of the British colony of Gibraltar. During her visit she carried out a courteous but undercover inspection of the customs post on the line of demarcation with the territory under Spanish sovereignty. This visit did not comply with Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) 1552/89 ((OJ L 155, 7.6.1989, p. 1. )), which requires advance warning to be given to the authorities responsible for such establishments.During her stay on the Rock, the Commissioner expressed support for the idea that Gibraltar should 'fly its own flag in Brussels' in the form of an 'information office'.Was this visit carried out with the prior knowledge of the Commission?Is the Commissioner aware that Gibraltar does not have its own flags and that its external relations are conducted exclusively by the British Government?Was the Commissioner able to appreciate, during her visit, the grave damage done to the health of the Spanish people and to their legal economy by the huge clearing-house for contraband - including drugs - which the territory of the British colony of Gibraltar now constitutes?Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (26 February 1997)The Commission regrets any misunderstandings regarding the recent visit to Gibraltar of the member of the Commission responsible for immigration, home affairs, justice and fraud prevention and is anxious to clear them up.The background to the visit is that the Commission is supporting measures to combat the cultivation and smuggling of drugs and other illicit goods. The drugs problem affects people in every Member State and this work must therefore be high on the Community agenda. The Commission is cooperating closely with Morocco, for example, to deal with the cultivation of cannabis in that country. Substantial quantities of cannabis are smuggled into Europe as hashish. This problem also concerns Gibraltar, since the motor boats used for smuggling have been moored in the port of Gibraltar. These boats were recently seized by the authorities. This is very positive, and one of the commissioner's reasons for wishing to visit Gibraltar was to find out what effect this measure has had on the drug smuggling.The Commission is only competent with regard to offices and representations accredited to it. This is not the situation as regards this matter. However, any interest group can open an office in Brussels.The trip to Gibraltar was planned in conjunction with a trip to Morocco. The planning followed normal routines.No inspection took place in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) 1552/89.The Commission is, of course, aware of the fact that the British government represents Gibraltar in foreign affairs matters.