Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to oppose the recent decision of the European Parliament to exclude Gibraltar from the Single European Sky project.

The Government is disappointed that the European Parliament voted to suspend Gibraltar from the Single European Skies dossier. This position is inconsistent with the EU treaties – which are clear that Gibraltar is part of the EU – and inconsistent with the approach taken earlier this year on Air Passenger Rights, where the European Parliament correctly amended the legislation so it applied to Gibraltar.

The UK cannot accept a return to the pre-2006 practice of suspending Gibraltar Airport from EU aviation measures. Gibraltarians, and other EU citizens who pass through Gibraltar airport, should benefit fully from the rights accorded elsewhere in the EU.

The proposed measure needs to be agreed by both the Council and the European Parliament. The Council is currently discussing text proposed by the European Commission on the amended Single European Sky legislation (known as SES II+), which does not exclude Gibraltar. The UK will continue to oppose any proposals to exclude Gibraltar from the scope of this legislation.