Europe, Gibraltar, Spain: Watson Probes EU over Frontier Restrictions on Tobacco

Source from:  Gibraltar Chronicle (gi)  02/04/2013

Gibraltar's Liberal Democrat MEP, Sir Graham Watson, has tabled fresh questions in the European Parliament about tobacco restrictions and delays at the border.
 
He wants to know whether the European Commission believes that new Spanish restrictions on tobacco products discriminate against residents of the Campo de Gibraltar.

Under the new rules, people living within a radius of 15 kilometres of the border will only be allowed to bring 80 cigarettes per month across the border, instead of 200 cigarettes as is the norm.
 
In a separate question, Sir Graham drew parallels between the Customs controls applied by Spain at the border with Gibraltar and those applied to people crossing into Spain from Andorra, Ceuta and Melilla.
 
"With VAT and duty being lower in Andorra as well as Melilla and Ceuta, these territories represent a threat to customs revenue similar to that posed by those entering Spain from Gibraltar," Sir Graham said in his question to the Commission.
 
"In light of this, does the Commission consider that a consistent, fair and non-discriminatory approach would see similar thorough checks also being required at the frontiers with Andorra as well as with Melilla and Ceuta?"
 
The Commission has stated in the past that it does not routinely monitor the Customs checks performed by national authorities in European countries.
 
It said EU member states should select custom controls based on 'risk management' factors as provided for in the customs legislation.
 
The Commission has also stated in the past that it does not believe Spanish checks at the border with Gibraltar are excessive.
 
January smokes
 
Guardia Civil officers seized 7898 cartons of contraband cigarettes at the border with Gibraltar during January.
 
As a result of routine checks, 484 cases of smuggling were sent for processing, with 299 vehicles seized by Spanish officers. Enditem