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Situation in the Bay likened to the Wild West by Green MEP
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The situation in the Bay has been likened to the Wild West by the Green Party MEP in the European Parliament David Hammerstein.
The suggestion is that anything goes in the Bay and it is not clear who is the 'sheriff'.
Hammerstein was addressing Spanish reporters in Algeciras. He was critical of remarks made by the Chief Minister Peter Caruana over the resolution in the European Parliament on the New Flame. He said Caruana had been 'insensitive' and the Spanish Government should ask the UK to explain about the position adopted by Caruana.
Caruana's remarks came during the press conference held in Gibraltar last week during the visit of the Europe minister Jim Murphy.
Hammerstein said that 'it was not true what Caruana said about cooperation, as the European Parliament did not say that there was excellent cooperation and communication between Gibraltar and the Spanish authorities', says an Efe report.
The Spanish report also highlights that Caruana refused to translate a Spanish reporter's question for Murphy, who does not speak Spanish, asking if the UK was going to intervene so that Gibraltar complies with the resolution of the European Parliament. Caruana said that Gibraltar, not the UK, was the competent authority on the New Flame. The resolution at the European Parliament, which was adopted by 555 votes to 7, with 6 abstentions, called on the European Commission "to verify if the competent authorities complied with their obligations" under the EU Treaty so as to avoid the disaster and to adopt, if appropriate, "the necessary legal measures."
The Green MEP also said that on the question of bunkering there is non-compliance with the Marpol international convention about placing anti-contamination barriers to avoid daily leaks when bunkering.
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