
This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Tensions grow between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar
- Sinai ‘is almost an all-out war’ as attack kills 24 Egyptian policemen
- Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak may be released from prison
Tensions grow between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar

A fisherman holds a Spanish flag during a protest in the bay of Algeciras, near the Rock of Gibraltar, on Sunday (AP)
The European Union is investigating a growing dispute between Britainand Spain over the enclave of Gibraltar, on the tip of Spain, butceded to Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1714, following onBritain’s victory in the War of the Spanish Succession. ( “13-Aug-13 World View — Britain sends warships to Gibraltar over border conflict with Spain”)
The dispute began after Gibraltar used concrete blocks to build anartificial reef to prevent Spanish fishermen from fishing in watersnear Gibraltar. This infuriated Spanish officials, who got revenge bytoughening border checks at the crossing points, leading to enormousdelays for workers and tourists entering Gibraltar.
On Monday, the European Commission issued a statement:
“[A] Commission fact-finding mission should as soon aspossible examine in loco the border control, movement of peopleand goods questions. President [José Manuel Barroso] expressedhis hope that Spain and the UK will address these matters in a waythat is in line with their common membership in theEU.”
Spanish fishermen, already struggling because of the financial crisis,say that Gibraltar’s actions are hurting them the most. “Over thereyou can catch 30 to 60 kilos of clams a day, for which they pay usnine euros a kilo. But here you get thin shells that fetch two eurosand moreover there are only a few of them,” according to one Spanishfisherman. Reuters and