Gibraltar originally joined the EU under the British Treaty of Accession in 1972. On the evening of Friday 31st January 2020 at midnight Central European Time the departure from the European Union at the appointed time the UK formally ceased being a member state.
A former Cabinet Office minister said British overseas territories such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands should be able to elect MPs to Parliament after Brexit. John Penrose wants the 14 overseas territories, which include the renowned tax-havens the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, to be able to negotiate devolution arrangements similar to that enjoyed by all four countries within the UK, and also elect MPs to Westminster.
The Conservative and Unionist party manifesto for the coming 12 December election, Get Brexit Done Unleash Britain’s Potential, in one of its chapters includes a special mention to the democratic rights and the protection of the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and other Overseas Territories.
The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) and Liberal Party alliance, led by Fabian Picardo, has been elected for a third term of office.
The British oil tanker Stena Impero, held by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz since July for alleged maritime violations, has been cleared to leave, according to local press reports published Sunday. The vessel is due to depart soon.
An Iranian tanker at the centre of an angry confrontation between Iran and Washington sailed for Greece on Monday after it was freed from detention off Gibraltar, as Washington called the release unfortunate and warned Greece and Mediterranean ports against helping the vessel.
The Iranian ship held by Gibraltar since July on suspicion of transporting oil to Syria has left port. Marine tracking shows the tanker moving east into the Mediterranean and lists Kalamata in Greece as the destination.
The Gibraltar Government on Thursday released the Iranian supertanker Grace 1, which was seized on July 4 on suspicion it was shipping 2.1m barrels of crude oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.
The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar will on Thursday release an Iranian oil tanker seized by Royal Marines in the Mediterranean in July, the Sun newspaper reported, citing sources close to Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.
A delegation of five members of the United States Congress is in Gibraltar for a two day visit. This follows the trip to Washington by Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Joseph Garcia earlier this year. The visit has been organized through the United Kingdom under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (MECEA) scheme.