'EU rights must extend to Gibraltarians' MEP tells European Parliament

8.36.53am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Jun 2007

Liberal Democrat MEP for Gibraltar Graham Watson has spoken on behalf of the Gibraltar Local Disability Movement (GLDM) in a meeting in the European Parliament. The GLDM, which has been in contact with Graham Watson, has asked the European Parliament to intervene with the British and Spanish governments to ensure that EU Regulations governing the rights of people with reduced mobility who wish to fly be extended to cover Gibraltar.

Speaking from the European Parliament in Brussels, Graham Watson MEP said:

"EU rights must extend to Gibraltarians. At my insistence the European Parliament's Petition Committee has undertaken to contact the Spanish and UK governments to ensure that the suspension of Gibraltar Airport from EU aviation measures be lifted and that my constituents on the Rock enjoy the same rights as other EU citizens."

The GLDM submitted a petition to the European Parliament calling for it to step in to the dispute over the application of EU measures to Gibraltar Airport. In particular this petition calls for action to be taken to ensure that EU standards for passengers with reduced mobility be upheld at Gibraltar Airport which would allow greater access for passengers with reduced mobility.