Gibraltar's Parking Lot on Spanish Soil: Airport Already Outside Treaty Limits
Gibraltar plans to construct a parking facility on Spanish land, while the airport itself falls outside the Utrecht Treaty. Will Spain permit it?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Gibraltar wants to build on Spanish soil: the airport is already outside the treaty
Can a foreign power build a facility on Spanish territory without permission? According to the facts, they already are. Gibraltar plans to expand its airport with a parking area that would be located on Spanish land, soil which, according to the Treaty of Utrecht, was not ceded to the British Crown.
Article X and the runway
The treaty's Article X establishes the limits of the cession. Gibraltar has no territorial waters, and the current airport, built on the isthmus, falls outside what was agreed upon. In other words, the runway already occupies Spanish soil. Now, the colony wishes to extend its infrastructure with a parking lot. The reaction from Madrid, as anticipated, will be approval in exchange for job creation, even if those jobs are only related to border surveillance.
Predictable Spanish acquiescence
Recent history shows that the Spanish government, regardless of its political orientation, has given its approval to Gibraltarian demands, often after mentioning some kind of jobs that will be created. The irony is that the airport is already on Spanish territory, and now the parking lot will be too. Spain, which has not taken any action to reclaim the isthmus, will probably end up paying for the construction with European funds.
Can a foreign power build a facility on Spanish territory without permission? According to the facts, they already are. Gibraltar plans to expand its airport with a parking area that would be located on Spanish land, soil which, according to the Treaty of Utrecht, was not ceded to the British Crown.
Article X and the runway
The treaty's Article X establishes the limits of the cession. Gibraltar has no territorial waters, and the current airport, built on the isthmus, falls outside what was agreed upon. In other words, the runway already occupies Spanish soil. Now, the colony wishes to extend its infrastructure with a parking lot. The reaction from Madrid, as anticipated, will be approval in exchange for job creation, even if those jobs are only related to border surveillance.
Predictable Spanish acquiescence
Recent history shows that the Spanish government, regardless of its political orientation, has given its approval to Gibraltarian demands, often after mentioning some kind of jobs that will be created. The irony is that the airport is already on Spanish territory, and now the parking lot will be too. Spain, which has not taken any action to reclaim the isthmus, will probably end up paying for the construction with European funds.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (15 replies).
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