EMEA News
Gibraltar Dispute "Not Concluded"
Despite a recent European Commission (EC) ruling that Gibraltar did not breach any environmental regulations through moves including allowing bunkering in its waters, Spanish official Iñigo Méndez de Vigo said the nation still considers the acts to be violations of the European Union (EU) rules, according to the Gibraltar Chronicle.
"The process is not concluded and Spain reserves all the options that are at its disposal within the EU sphere to avoid actions that are contrary to the protection of the marine environment," he said.
Méndez de Vigo, secretary of state for the EU, said Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef "was a unilateral and unfriendly act" and that Spain has successfully legislated to stop the use of permanently anchored bunkering tankers that were once used by some Gibraltar suppliers.
The official also said Spain is losing out on a billion euros in taxes each year because of Gibraltar's fiscal regime and called for the EC to look into the British territory's tax policies for possible illegal state aid.
The Gibraltar Chronicle says the EC has already cleared the tax regime as compliant with regulations.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said earlier this month that the EC finding was "hugely significant" and that the government is not concerned about possible challenges to the ruling.
