Over the past few days, the Spanish government has caused lengthy queues at the border between Spain and Gibraltar after insisting each vehicle moving between the two jurisdictions is checked.
While Spain has not explicitly confirmed it, it is believed the increased border checks are in retaliation for a decision by the government of Gibraltar to create an artificial reef within the Bay of Gibraltar last month – which are British waters.
The reef is similar to those created by Spain along its nearby coast, however the Spanish government said Gibraltar’s reef has been put there to disrupt the work of local fisherman.
Yesterday, British foreign secretary William Hague said the UK will “stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar at this time of increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric”.
Hague also referenced Gibraltar’s 2006 constitution which states that the UK will not give “The Rock” to Spain, without the consent of Gibraltarians – the vast majority of which support continued British rule.
Lasry, who is also a partner and head of the funds team at Hassans law firm, said so far he has had to explain the situation to only one investor, adding that the investor was satisfied “once I explained that Gibraltar had belonged to the UK longer than the United States has been American”.
