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Incursion by Spanish authorities into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters

Foreign Office Minister for Europe David Lidington: "shocked by the disgraceful behaviour of the Spanish Guardia Civil"

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Reacting to a recent incursion by Spanish authorities into British Gibraltar territorial waters by the Spanish Guardia Civil on Friday, Mr Lidington said:

“I am shocked by the disgraceful behaviour of the Spanish Guardia Civil who detained two Gibraltarian British Nationals in British jurisdiction and transferred them to Spain. The Government will be making it clear to Spain that such action, on the part of the law enforcement agencies of a EU Partner and NATO Ally, is intolerable and unlawful.

“The British Government remains confident of our Sovereignty of Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Our position is clear. The UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Furthermore, the UK will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.”

Published 22 July 2012