§ Lord Merrivaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will take political steps to amend the legislation on direct elections with regard to Gibraltar's continuing disenfranchisement; and what steps they will take if Spain vetoes their initiative. [HL1304]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe are already taking such steps. The UK Permanent Representative to the European Union informed the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) in Brussels on 4 March of our intention to seek an amendment to the 1976 EC Act on Direct Elections in the current negotiations in Brussels on establishing Common Principles for European Parliamentary elections. Our embassies have taken parallel action in EU capitals. It would be premature to comment on the expected outcome of these negotiations, which are expected to take some months.
§ Viscount Waverleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which dependent territories linked to European Union member states carry the same status as Gibraltar. [HL1310]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe overseas territories of member states participate in the European Union in a variety of ways. While there are similarities with Gibraltar in some instances, Gibraltar's overall status is unique.
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§ Viscount Waverleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which dependent territories linked to European Union member states are able to exercise a right to vote in the forthcoming European parliamentary elections. [HL1311]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe dependent territories which are able to vote in European parliamentary elections are the French Territories d'Outre-Mer (New Calendonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futana) and Collectivities Territoriales (Mayotte, St. Pierre and Miquelon). Other overseas territories which can vote in European parliamentary elections are part of the metropolitan member state for constitutional purposes and are not dependent territories. These include the Azores and Madeira in Portugal, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla in Spain, the Aland Islands in Finland and the French Departments d'Outre Mers.
§ Viscount Waverleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the differences in status between Ceuta and Gibraltar. [HL1312]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe main difference is a constitutional one: Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the UK while Ceuta is deemed part of metropolitan Spain. Though each is within the European Union under a different provision of the Treaty of Rome, similar derogations in respect of the Community Customs Territory, VAT and the common agricultural and fisheries policies apply to both. Gibraltar transposes EC directives by local legislation while Ceuta relies on the legislature in Madrid. Ceuta participates in European parliamentary elections. At present Gibraltar does not.