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Dr Garcia accuses European Commission of washing its hands of Gibraltar issue
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The Leader of the Liberal Party of Gibraltar Dr Joseph Garcia has told the meeting of ALDE MEPs in Gibraltar that Europe cannot be just about the 27 Member States. ?Europe must be about people?.
These comments were made in his welcoming address to the Liberal and Democrat Members of the European Parliament who are attending a three-day meeting in Gibraltar under the theme ?Gibraltar in the EU?.
In a historical overview of the position of Gibraltar in the European Union Dr Garcia highlighted the struggle to obtain the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament, the exclusion of Gibraltar airport from EU civil aviation measures since 1987 and the delays at the frontier.
The Liberal Leader explained that there are two distinct phases to Gibraltar?s membership. The first was the phase from 1973 until 1986, before Spain joined Europe, and the second phase came after 1986 following Spanish membership.
?The policy of successive Spanish Governments has been to use the European Union as a vehicle through which to advance their claim to Gibraltar,? Dr Garcia told the MEPs.
Dr Garcia accused the European Commission of washing its hands of the Gibraltar issue and of having failed in its duty as guardians of the EU treaties when it comes to Gibraltar.
?They have been quite happy to suspend the application of EU rights to Gibraltar and its people and to pass the buck to the United Kingdom and Spain, even though we are EU nationals and this is EU territory,? he said.
He expressed his thanks to the Leader of ALDE who is South West and Gibraltar MEP Graham Watson and to the Liberal and Democrat group for the support that they have given to Gibraltar in the past.
Dr Garcia added that Gibraltar looked to its friends in the European Parliament ?so that they are vigilant on our behalf?.
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