EU grabs miles of British waters for Spain [Archive]

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 10:38 AM

Daily Mail: EU and Spain grab miles of British territortial waters (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189778/Gibraltar-ambush-Spain-grabs-miles-British-waters-carry-environmental-protection.html)

They've tried invasion, diplomacy and downright skulduggery to grab a piece of Gibraltar during the past 300 years.

But now the Spanish have played their trump card by laying claim to 20 square miles of sea around the Rock...in the name of the environment.

And it seems to have worked – for the moment, at least. For the EU has granted Spain legal rights over British waters surrounding Gibraltar.

But the move has sparked protests from Britain and the Gibraltar government and led to a confrontation between Royal Navy and Spanish warships.

The grab for the section of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) came about when Spain convinced the European Commission to include Gibraltar’s waters within a new 69sq mile EU marine conservation area called the Estrecho Oriental, to be maintained by Spain.

However, under EU law, only the member state with sovereignty over the land or sea in question can apply for it to be designated an EU conservation site – meaning the EU has recognised Spain’s possession of British water.

A slap in the face to this country and the people of Gibraltar, the European Union and the Kingdom of Spain have no right to take any of our sovereign waters or land, and now it seems after 300 years fighting the Spanish over terrortorial issues we are about to give in because the European Union has sided with Spain, as usual.

An absolute disgrace, and begs futhermore on the eve of the European Elections - why is this country is the European Union?

xxMATTGxx

31-05-2009, 11:06 AM

What the hell are they playing at. Lets send some British ships into their waters and see if they like it. The British Government and the Royal Navy will not stand for this crap.

alexxxxx

31-05-2009, 11:11 AM

Spain took it. Not the EU. And it's Gibraltar's waters, not Britain's itself.

It's a minor thing, just like when we shot at some icelandic ships the other month. Happens all the time.

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 11:24 AM

Spain took it. Not the EU. And it's Gibraltar's waters, not Britain's itself.

It's a minor thing, just like when we shot at some icelandic ships the other month. Happens all the time.

The EU granted Spain the waters. Gibraltar is a colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, hence why it is protected by the Royal Navy. It isn't a minor thing, Spain have been after Gibraltar for years and years and thanks to the EU they are now ahead of the game.

If we passed all of our rival territorial claims off as 'nothing' we wouldn't have any remaining colonies left, just like the Falklands which we took back because we had a government and a Prime Minister with a backbone.

Xarea

31-05-2009, 11:31 AM

I don't see why it matters. I think you lot overreact too much at all this stuff.

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 11:35 AM

I don't see why it matters. I think you lot overreact too much at all this stuff.

It matters because they are British sovereign waters and Spain has repeatedly demanded that Gibraltar be handed over to Spain despite the people of Gibraltar being possibly the most patriotic people who live in the United Kingdom and its colonies.

I care, and thats better than not caring. It was caring that brought down the Third Reich and Soviet Union.

lick

31-05-2009, 11:41 AM

I don't see why it matters. I think you lot overreact too much at all this stuff.

I agree, this section is turing into hate the EU by some people :).

Jordan,

31-05-2009, 11:46 AM

BOMB em I say

alexxxxx

31-05-2009, 11:53 AM

Spain have been wanting Gibraltar for ages. It's not like it's the first time in hundreds of years they have wandered into Gibraltar's waters and it wasn't even a navy ship. Get a grip. It's up to Gibraltar to sort its waters out and then call on the navy if need be. They've put a complaint into the European Council I think. It's not in the EU. We shouldn't have colonies anyway. It's just slavery, that's why India and the like turned into their own states. We have the fawklands so we have a claim for some of the oil or whatever in the antarctic.

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 12:01 PM

I agree, this section is turing into hate the EU by some people :).

Then come and defend the EU. You can't have it your way if you don't want to support your cause/s.

Spain have been wanting Gibraltar for ages. It's not like it's the first time in hundreds of years they have wandered into Gibraltar's waters and it wasn't even a navy ship. Get a grip. It's up to Gibraltar to sort its waters out and then call on the navy if need be. They've put a complaint into the European Council I think. It's not in the EU. We shouldn't have colonies anyway. It's just slavery, that's why India and the like turned into their own states. We have the fawklands so we have a claim for some of the oil or whatever in the antarctic.

What has angered people is that the EU with all this in mind had now granted Spain legal rights over our territorial waters when they have no right to. I'm glad, but the fact is they shouldn't have to complain to Europe, it is not up to Europe to tell us whether we still have a legal status over our water and land which we have held for the past two hundred years or more.

Gibralter wants to be a colony, now called a British Oversea Territory. We should never abandon them people to other countrys, as what a Labour Government in the 1980's most likely would of done to the Falklands if it wasn't for Margaret Thatcher. The older colonies are now gone which in the end wanted independance despite the fact we built up/even created most of them countries as they didn't exist before we ventured there, but thats another can of worms.

efq

31-05-2009, 01:45 PM

I think the UK should start standing up for themselves. This year isn't the best for them and they don't seem to care that much.

Technologic

31-05-2009, 02:49 PM

Gibraltar is as British as Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish. Morocco demands those spanish exclaves back yet spain ignore them, so why the **** should we give Gibraltar back?

Jordy

31-05-2009, 02:51 PM

I think the UK should start standing up for themselves. This year isn't the best for them and they don't seem to care that much.I think anymore than what's been done would be a disproportionate response. I agree we should do all we can to keep Gibralta from the Spanish and it looks like the Gibralta and British governments are upset about this and will be complaining. The Navy did the responsible thing of turning them back. Anymore would of just been uncalled for.

Gibralta is a particularly important oversea territory, it serves as the gateway to the Mediterrenean and was important in World War II like other territories in the Mediterrenean.

efq

31-05-2009, 03:10 PM

A lot of people are saying including political people are saying that because Britain sent a HMS which led the Spanish to retreat from the waters that it could lead to a war with Gibralta after the past when Britain went to war with the Argentinians for the falklands.

alexxxxx

31-05-2009, 03:44 PM

lick

31-05-2009, 04:17 PM

Then come and defend the EU. You can't have it your way if you don't want to support your cause/s.

Im just saying that this section is allabout hating the Eu for you thats al i never said i wanted to defend it. I have no-intrest in politics.

eight

31-05-2009, 04:51 PM

we should go steal their sun

xxMATTGxx

31-05-2009, 05:13 PM

The Spanish wouldn't invade Gibraltar, let's not get stupid.

They could if they was stupid enough to do so, but surely they would know the UK wouldn't let that happen.

A lot of people are saying including political people are saying that because Britain sent a HMS which led the Spanish to retreat from the waters that it could lead to a war with Gibralta after the past when Britain went to war with the Argentinians for the falklands.

HMS Sabre or the Royal Navy was doing its job by protecting the British overseas territory. I wouldn't expect it to turn into a war like the Falklands, but it does seem the UK and Gibraltar are pretty annoyed at the situation.

Dean

31-05-2009, 06:19 PM

It's not like Britain is amazing, we need the EU anyway. I don't think you realize.

AgnesIO

31-05-2009, 06:35 PM

BOMB em I say

Spain already have ETA to deal with :P

England should fight for themselves, but Spain have the right to fight too..

Jam

31-05-2009, 06:41 PM

It's not like Britain is amazing, we need the EU anyway. I don't think you realize.

I'm CERTAIN dan knows what he's talking about, and how the hell do we need them? We don't use the euro, and if they're going to side with other EU countries then stuff them.

Sammeth.

31-05-2009, 06:41 PM

I'm glad the UK have learnt the important lesson of sharing.

GommeInc

31-05-2009, 07:19 PM

What the hell are they playing at. Lets send some British ships into their waters and see if they like it. The British Government and the Royal Navy will not stand for this crap.
Oh they will, this government is far too lazy and our PM has gone missing (or at least, he's gone quiet for some reason). I've bought meself a welcome mat to stick to my back. All are welcome to walk on me :D *sings patriotic songs and skips away*

This is rediculous though, it could be seen as invasion :/

AgnesIO

31-05-2009, 08:14 PM

Oh they will, this government is far too lazy and our PM has gone missing (or at least, he's gone quiet for some reason). I've bought meself a welcome mat to stick to my back. All are welcome to walk on me :D *sings patriotic songs and skips away*

This is rediculous though, it could be seen as invasion :/

Invasion? By Spain? Joke right? :S

I think you are going a tad ott..

GommeInc

31-05-2009, 08:32 PM

When did I say it is an invasion? I said it could be seen as, not is. Big difference. An invasion is commonly seen as another country forcing itself upon another, physically. While other forms of invasion are a breach of rights, which this could be seen as ;)

As far as I see it, it's just a terrible mistake/mis-use of power to some degree. It'll be fixed in due time, hopefully.

AgnesIO

31-05-2009, 08:33 PM

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 08:36 PM

Im just saying that this section is allabout hating the Eu for you thats al i never said i wanted to defend it. I have no-intrest in politics.

Then post other news your interested in, its not my job to post news that suits everyones tastes. I post what I am interested in, and considering the European Elections are just a few days away the news is pretty important.

It's not like Britain is amazing, we need the EU anyway. I don't think you realize.

The country that built the biggest Empire the world had ever seen, the country which started the industrial revolution, the country which invented so many items we take for granted, the country that defeated Europe twice, the country that still has amazing growth rates - we need the European Union?

In the words of Jim Royale; my arse.

GommeInc

31-05-2009, 08:39 PM

Oh sorry mate!

I read wrong I thought you said 'It could be an invasion' - as in 'next they will invade' LOL

Sorry :)
Meh, no worries. Would be funny, reliving the Queen Elizabeth I period :D Flaming ships anyone? Or was that just in the film?

Roboevil

31-05-2009, 08:46 PM

The country that built the biggest Empire the world had ever seen, the country which started the industrial revolution, the country which invented so many items we take for granted, the country that defeated Europe twice, the country that still has amazing growth rates - we need the European Union?

In the words of Jim Royale; my arse.

Lol, times are a bit different now. We can't pick up our sticks, storm through some villages, plant a flag and claim we've conquered the land.

Now we have the economy to compete with, and back then, America and China didn't exist--we need the EU.

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 08:50 PM

Lol, times are a bit different now. We can't pick up our sticks, storm through some villages, plant a flag and claim we've conquered the land.

Now we have the economy to compete with, and back then, America and China didn't exist--we need the EU.

Hang on, our economy is fine and thats no thanks to the European Union. We were always competing from around 1900 with the United States and later Nazi Germany, so after all these years of trading fine, and with the majority of the worlds nations still trading fine without the European Union - you are telling me we need the EU?

If that is the case that we need the EU, where is the excuse for the EU going from the ECC (economic trade deal) to a near superstate which wasn't elected or chosen by the people, and when it was put to the polls it was turned down by all three countrys which were given the chance to vote.

GommeInc

31-05-2009, 08:56 PM

The British economy is balancing out as far as I am aware. The trustees (how posh!) we have got in contact about it not so long ago (long story about why we've got solicitors and trustees involved etc etc). Why do we need the EU when we seem to be better without them? If we compete using economies instead of sticks, how comes we seem to be balancing out now and have a debatedly better economy than the laods of EU countries?

Sammeth.

31-05-2009, 09:08 PM

I think we should switch to the Euro.

lick

31-05-2009, 09:11 PM

Hang on, our economy is fine and thats no thanks to the European Union. We were always competing from around 1900 with the United States and later Nazi Germany, so after all these years of trading fine, and with the majority of the worlds nations still trading fine without the European Union - you are telling me we need the EU?

If that is the case that we need the EU, where is the excuse for the EU going from the ECC (economic trade deal) to a near superstate which wasn't elected or chosen by the people, and when it was put to the polls it was turned down by all three countrys which were given the chance to vote.

The goverment of Ireland one of the three who voted is forseing another election on us this summer and since the economy is in the way it is in people think that it is gunna be voted in. I have no clue what it means because i dunno what it is, but i went to the voting stations with my mam and people who i would have though would never have voted were there, some draged there by there parents to vote no. lol

-:Undertaker:-

31-05-2009, 09:26 PM

The goverment of Ireland one of the three who voted is forseing another election on us this summer and since the economy is in the way it is in people think that it is gunna be voted in. I have no clue what it means because i dunno what it is, but i went to the voting stations with my mam and people who i would have though would never have voted were there, some draged there by there parents to vote no. lol

There you have it, you voted 'wrong' so the European Union will make you vote again. Do you think if you had voted 'Yes' in the last referendum they would be asking your opinion again - theres not a chance in hell they would.

Good, the Irish people know what is at stake if they are making their family vote, I just wish the people of Britain and Europe could have their say, because we know if they did the EU would cease to exist overnight.

ifuseekamy

01-06-2009, 03:05 AM

It's some water around a territory thousands of miles away, I doubt we're going to miss it.

-:Undertaker:-

02-06-2009, 06:04 PM

It's some water around a territory thousands of miles away, I doubt we're going to miss it.

In that case we just hand it over the Spain because the EU tells us to? - despite the fact we've held that as our terrirtory for hundreds of years and has some of the most patriotic people living on it, more patriotic than you by far.

PaintYourTarget

02-06-2009, 06:25 PM

They've given it to Spain to look after it Environmentally. Rather the EU spends Spain's tax money on protecting it than our own seeing as we don't really get much out of it.

GommeInc

03-06-2009, 08:34 PM

They've given it to Spain to look after it Environmentally. Rather the EU spends Spain's tax money on protecting it than our own seeing as we don't really get much out of it.
But it isn't the EUs territory to hand over to Spain nor is it Spain's right to have it, what are they going to do that we won't? Heck, the EU has no power to hand over land, it's just a name given to aload of countries that don't understand independence!