GSLP-Liberals-Manifesto-2019

Withdrawal Treaty and was included in
the transitional phase.
We achieved this.
The Agreement included a specific
Protocol on Gibraltar. There are four
memoranda of understanding which
flow from this Protocol. These cover
police and judicial cooperation, the
environment, tobacco and citizen’s
rights.
It is important to recall that the four
memoranda all come to an end at the
same time as the transition period.
A comprehensive tax treaty was also
negotiated directly between Gibraltar
and Spain.
This means that the framework to
protect Gibraltar until 31 December
2020 is now in place in the event that
a Withdrawal Agreement were to be
ratified by the UK Parliament.
This architecture, whether it eventually
takes effect or not, is nonetheless
a testimony to the sheer hard work
and the skills of the GSLP Liberals
in Government, particularly Fabian
Picardo and Joseph Garcia.
Those who have declared that they
would not honour these agreements
if they were elected into Government
in Gibraltar will have to live with the
consequences of their actions. It
would mean, in the event of a deal,
that the transition period would not
apply to Gibraltar and that we would
exit the EU alone even BEFORE the
UK. This represents a dangerous and
irresponsible policy on their part.
NO DEAL BREXIT
The alternative to an agreement for
the departure of the United Kingdom
and Gibraltar from the European Union
is that there is no agreement. This is
called a no deal Brexit.
The present position is that the United
Kingdom could leave the European
Union on 31 October without a deal.
The UK Government have said that
they want to leave with an agreement.
The UK Parliament has passed a law
instructing the Government to seek
an extension until 31 January 2020 if
there is no agreement.
There is therefore considerable
uncertainty in relation to Brexit and it
is difficult to predict the final outcome.
Gibraltar needs a Government with the
experience and the personal contacts
to navigate through the challenges
posed by Brexit and only the GSLP
Liberals can provide this.
Brexit is too serious to be left to
novices.
NO DEAL PLANNING
In Government, the GSLP Liberals
have put in place detailed contingency
plans in the event of a no deal Brexit.
This work has been carried out in a
prudent, sensible and responsible
manner.
We are justifiably proud of the many
officials who have been involved and
very grateful for their invaluable input
and their time.
We have engaged with relevant
stakeholders in the business
community, with the Opposition and
with other organisations on no deal
Brexit planning.
It is important to bear in mind the
background of political uncertainty
in the United Kingdom against which
our plans have been drawn up. This
means that anything could change at
any time.
A GSLP/Liberal Government would
continue to prepare Gibraltar for a
possible departure from the European
Union on 31 October 2019.
BREXIT INFORMATION OFFICE
On 1 October we opened a Brexit
Information Office as we originally
announced we would, with a view to
our EU exit on 31 October.
In the event that we do not leave on
that date, we will continue to prepare
for our EU departure at any new
designated date, whether this is 31
January 2020, as the UK Parliament
has legislated, 31 December 2020 as
provided in the Withdrawal Agreement
or any other date.
FUTURE RELATIONSHIP
In Government, the GSLP Liberals have
already commenced discussions with
the United Kingdom on the UK/EU
future partnership negotiations. These
are expected to start immediately if
there is a Withdrawal Agreement in
place. They are expected to cover a
large number of separate policy areas.
It is essential for Gibraltar that there
...aspire to the best Gibraltar
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