Graham Watson defends Gibraltars waters from Spanish invasion

10.18.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th May 2009

Liberal Democrat MEP for Gibraltar and the South West Graham Watson has made representations to the British Government following the designation by Spain of Gibraltar's territorial waters as Spanish in an EU directive.

Mr Watson has expressed his concern to the Foreign Secretary David Milliband that a recent EU Site of Community Importance (SCI) included in Commission Decision of 12 December 2008 appears to overlap a previous SCI drawn up in cooperation with the Gibraltar authorities.

Graham Watson has reminded the Foreign Secretary that the EU directive provides legal obligations and responsibilities over specified waters including responsibilities to undertake assessments and to monitor these areas for wildlife, threats and other activities with environmental implications.

The Liberal Democrat MEP has pressed the UK Government as to what action they are taking in regard to this matter given that the new area creates possible obligations on the Spanish authorities to monitor this wildlife zone even though it is in Gibraltar's sovereign waters.