§ Mr. HendrickTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrangements made with Spain in respect of Gibraltar Airport to unblock the progress of EC aviation measures. [66422]
§ Peter HainWe have agreed a procedure with Spain and the Commission allowing aviation measures to be unblocked, without prejudicing any party's position on 39W sovereignty, or affecting day to day operations at Gibraltar airport. When such a measure is brought forward, the Commission will judge whether or not it places obligations on airports. If so, the Council and Commission will agree to the insertion of the clauses suspending application until the implementation of the 1987 Joint Declaration of the UK and Spain on Gibraltar airport, which have featured in previous measures. If not, the text will not be amended. The Transport Council agreed Common Positions on the first measures subject to this arrangement, relating to occurrence reporting and aviation statistics, on 17 June.
We are confident that suspension will have no material impact on the operation of Gibraltar airport. We will continue to work with the Government of Gibraltar and the authorities at Gibraltar airport to ensure that, wherever necessary, equivalent measures are implemented on a national basis.
The Government believes that this is the best way forward until a long-term solution is found. We have always made clear that we want Gibraltar to enjoy the full benefits of EC aviation measures, as is its right. But, since the 11 September atrocities in particular, it is essential for British and other European air travellers, and the companies concerned, that EC measures to improve the functioning of the aviation sector, and especially to enhance aviation security, are taken forward quickly and effectively. It would be intolerable if all air travellers were denied the benefit of such measures because of delay
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Date Venue Event August 1–2 Brunei ASEAN post-Ministerial Conference (Troika) 27–29 Illulissat Meeting of the Northern Dimension (Ministerial) 31–1 Elisnore Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) September 6 Brussels ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting 6–8 Copenhagen ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) 8–10 Nyborg Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) 12–13 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe 12–13 Copenhagen Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 22–24 Copenhagen ASEM Meeting 23–24 Brussels Agriculture Council 24 Copenhagen EU—China 24 Cophenhagen EU—South Korea 26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council 27 Tent ACP—EU Ministers Meeting 30 Brussels Research Council 30–1 Brussels General Affairs Council October 3–4 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe 3–4 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council 7–8 Copenhagen EU—Canada (Ministerial) 8 Brussels ECOFIN 8 Brussels Employment and Social Policy Council 10 Copenhagen EU—India 14 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 17 Brussels Environment Council 18–19 Aalborg Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal) 21–22 Brussels General Affairs Council 24–25 Brussels European Council 28–29 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe November 1 Brussels Culture Council 2 Brussels ECOFIN—Troika meeting on Macro—Economic Dialogue 7–8 Copenhagen EU—SADC (Ministerial) caused by disagreement between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar and the refusal of the Government of Gibraltar to join discussions to resolve such problems under the Brussels process.