Concern for the environmental future of the Strait is once again at the center of the institutional debate. The Minister of Sustainability and Environment of the Government of Andalusia, Catalina Garcia (PP), has warned that the agreement on Gibraltar called to regulate the Rock’s relationship with the European Union behind him Brexit “leaves aside” key aspects in environmental matters, especially in relation to “fillers” executed on the Gibraltar coast.
In statements to Channel On Radiocollected by Europa Press, the counselor has expressed the “worry” of the Andalusian Executive for what he considers a lack of specificity in the treaty on environmental matters, an issue that, as he has pointed out, has a “very important impact” for Andalusia and, in particular, for the Campo de Gibraltar.
Impact on tides, flora and fauna
As Catalina García explained, the fillings that are being carried out in Gibraltar could “modify the tides that reach the coast”in addition to directly affecting the “flora and fauna of the ocean”.
The counselor has insisted that the treaty “suffers” from a lack of participation of the Junta de Andalucía in its preparationa circumstance that, in his opinion, has caused “key elements” to not be specified in the environmental field.
In this sense, he has highlighted that he has been “months”, even “more than a year”, sending letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the minister, José Manuel Albaresexpressing in writing the Andalusian Government’s concern about the lack of control over these projects. As reported, in the environmental part related to landfills, “It is not complying with international regulations”.
State competition and lack of control
The Andalusian head of Sustainability has stressed that the Board cannot intervene directly in this issue, since it is a “entirely the responsibility of the Ministry”. However, he has reiterated that the regional Executive is “very concerned” about the quality of what is being carried out and about a “environmental impact that no one is measuring”.
In his opinion, Gibraltar continues to promote “many projects without control” that directly affect the Andalusian coast, Spain and Campo de Gibraltar, without there being a clear environmental supervision mechanism included in the treaty.
The ZEC of the Eastern Strait, outside the agreement
Another point pointed out by the counselor is the existence of a Special Area of Conservation (ZEC) in the Eastern Straitwhich, as stated, has not been taken into account in writing in the agreement.
In this way, he has warned that the protection of this space could be left “to the free will” of what Gibraltar considers appropriate, limiting itself to maintaining that it complies with current regulations, something that, as García has pointed out, constitutes “always its excuse.”
The Junta de Andalucía thus maintains its critical position regarding the environmental content of the treaty, warning of possible consequences for the Andalusian coast and demanding greater guarantees and control mechanisms in a particularly sensitive enclave such as the Strait.
