PDP SUPPORTS UK-GIBRALTAR ACTION ON WATERS CASE

In a PDP statement issued today the Party welcomes the fact that the UK is appealing the preliminary procedural decision of the European Court in the case challenging the designation by Spain of part of our waters under the Habitats Directive. The European Court ruled that the challenge by the Gibraltar and British Governments was inadmissible on technical grounds.

PDP Leader Keith Azopardi said “These are our waters and the UK and Gibraltar
Governments should leave no stone unturned in defending our rights at the European
Court.”

Clearly there has, as yet, not been a substantive ruling on the merits of the case. On the
merits themselves it seems to the PDP that the designation by Spain of Gibraltar territorial waters is simply unsustainable as a matter of international law. This argument needs to be made to the European Court in the strongest of terms.

To achieve that opportunity the procedural hurdle of admissibility must first be overcome. As such the PDP is fully supportive of the decision by both the Gibraltar and British Governments to appeal these decisions.