Question 3 October 2014 Julie Girling (ECR)
Subject: Continued checks on border between Spain and Gibraltar
In its recommendations to Spain of November 2013 regarding the intensity of the checks conducted by the Spanish frontier authorities on traffic exiting Spain and entering Gibraltar, the Commission described such checks as unjustifiable.
Given that these checks continue and that the delays to enter Gibraltar are a matter of public record, what further action does the Commission intend to take on this point?
Answer 29 January 2015 Commissioner Avramopoulos
On 2 July 2014, the team of Commission experts paid a second technical fact finding visit to the border crossing point of La Línea de la Concepción between Spain and Gibraltar. The aim of the visit was to get a full picture of the steps that had been communicated by the authorities of Spain and Gibraltar on their implementation of the Commission’s recommendations from November 2013 and to better understand what measures still need to be implemented. Following the visit, on 30 July 2014 the Commission addressed a set of more specific recommendations to both Spain and Gibraltar with a view to improving the vehicular and pedestrian traffic situation at this border and better addressing tobacco smuggling.
One of the aspects covered by the Commission’s recommendations to Spain is that checks carried out by the Spanish authorities on both persons and vehicles must be based on a well-defined risk assessment and the principle of proportionality.
The Commission has received the Spanish reply and is currently analysing it.