Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the EU Commission about the legal implications of the detention of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.

The United Kingdom forwarded correspondence from the Government of Gibraltar that notified the EU Commission on 5th July 2019 of Government of Gibraltar action in respect of the Grace 1 on the 4th July 2019 pursuant to enforcement of EU Council Regulation 36/2012 (Syria). It is for Member States to determine and take necessary measures to implement and enforce EU sanctions. In this instance the decision to detain Grace 1 was taken by the Government of Gibraltar.