The Diplomat
The vice-secretary of Institutional Coordination of the PP of Andalusia and councillor of the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue and Administrative Simplification of the Andalusian Government, Antonio Sanz, criticized yesterday that the Government of Pedro Sánchez “excludes” the autonomous community and the municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar of the “negotiations” that are taking place on the British colony between the European Union and the United Kingdom, with the participation of the Government of Spain.
When asked by journalists in the Port of Santa Maria, Sanz described the Government’s attitude as “lack of respect and consideration.” And he expressed his discomfort, underlining that when, for the first time, the authorities of Gibraltar come to a table, where until now only “sovereign governments sat”, it turns out that neither the Andalusian autonomous community, nor the province of Cádiz, nor the town councils of the Campo region.
After accusing the Sánchez Government of “disdaining” the province of Cádiz, the councillor of the Presidency pointed out that the Andalusian Executive wants an agreement on Gibraltar, “but not just any agreement”, and that it is not willing to accept one that does not count. with the residents of the Campo and that “does not resolve historical problems, such as ‘fiscal dumping’ or the environmental issue from the point of view of purification or waste.”
The ‘popular’ councillor also warned that “we also do not know how the shared use of the airport” in Gibraltar will be resolved, “and if we are going to continue having police or a security force that has to be present , in addition to Frontex”.
After criticizing the fact that they have to learn the news from the newspapers, he insisted that “it is a bad system that gives priority to Gibraltar and excludes the municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar and the autonomous community itself”, something that, he said, “it had never happened, because the autonomous community had always been informed.”
The mayor of Algeciras (Cádiz), José Ignacio Landaluce, joined in criticizing the Government for its “obscurantism” regarding the details of the negotiations and asked that “any agreement” not be closed, “If negotiations have to continue, what negotiations continue, but it should be an agreement that favors both parties,” he said in statements to Canal Sur.
After adding that a good agreement must involve Gibraltar assuming commitments in fiscal matters, environmental matters (water purification) or equality between all workers (those of Gibraltarians and Campo-Gibraltarians), he announced that, as president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, has called a session for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to report on the negotiations.
