§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to improve the flow of people and traffic between Spain and Gibraltar following the introduction of the Schengen agreement on EU external frontiers. [20426]
§ Mr. David DavisWhen I met my Spanish opposite number, Mr. Westendorp, on 19 April, I made clear our concern about the unacceptable delays at the Spain-Gibraltar frontier.
Our ambassador in Madrid has also formally protested to the Spanish Government. We have left the Spanish Government in no doubt that we will not accept the implementation of the Schengen convention as an excuse for frontier delays.
249WIt is up to the Schengen countries to provide adequate staff at their frontier posts with other EU countries to prevent any undue delay to EU citizens.
We have also reminded the Spanish Government that the Schengen external frontier is not equivalent to the EU's external frontier. Gibraltar is an integral part of the European Union and must be treated as such.