Article 50 Working Group meetings with Gibraltar authorities and pressure groups

27.11.2018

Question for written answer E-005995-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Esteban González Pons (PPE)

In light of the statements by the UK Prime Minister on the role of the Government of Gibraltar in the Brexit negotiations:

• 1.Does the Commission know how many times the article 50 Working Group has met, whether inside or outside the Berlaymont building, with the Chief Minister or the Government of Gibraltar, or with authorities, legal representatives or pressure groups linked to the territory, including meetings with the chief negotiator Michel Barnier, the deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand and any member of their team, and, if such meetings have taken place, on how many occasions, where and when and for what purpose were they held?
• 2.Can the Commission confirm or deny the direct or indirect participation by the Government of Gibraltar in the final drafting of the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular Article 184, either through its Chief Minister or members of the Government or through other authorities, legal representatives or pressure groups linked to Gibraltar?
• 3.Can the Commission offer a reasonable explanation as to why the Chief Minister of a territory subject to decolonisation and which does not officially belong to any EU Member State, as is the case with Gibraltar, would have access to the draft UK Withdrawal Agreement earlier than the Head of Government of a Member State such as Spain?