A U.K. registered vehicle had to be driven out of Gibraltar by a Spanish driver on Monday morning, after the U.K. haulier who delivered goods to Gibraltar was not allowed out on Friday.

Other U.K. hauliers have had similar difficulties at the border in recent days.

The Gibraltar and U.K. governments are aware of the problems being experienced at the frontier and are trying to get the policy changed by the Spanish authorities.

PROBLEMS ON FRIDAY

The U.K. trailer had delivered goods to the Rock for Gibraltar-based East Gate Freight and was set to return back to the U.K. without any cargo.

U.K. hauliers with ECMT permits are able to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries, including Spain.

However, the Spanish authorities stopped the U.K. registered driver on Friday on his way out of Gibraltar and did not allow him out of the customs compound.

A spokesperson for East Gate told GBC it was their U.K. agent who was not able to leave, and had to use one of their Spanish drivers on Monday morning instead.

Issues with at least two more U.K. hauliers were being dealt with on Monday afternoon.

Last week the Spanish authorities introduced changes, insisting anyone wanting to transport goods or people from Gibraltar into Spain, need to register their employment status in the European Union.

It's the same new rule which means that, unless it is a life or death situation, Gibraltar ambulances will only be able to transfer routine patients for treatment to Spanish hospitals if they are staffed by GHA employees who live in Spain or by EU nationals.

PRINCIPLE OF RECIPROCITY

Domestic legislation had allowed EU hauliers to continue to operate in Gibraltar post-Brexit, with this reciprocated in Spain and the EU while a new treaty on the future relationship was being negotiated. That reciprocity was broken by Spain last week.

The Gibraltar Government will also now introduce a permit system for EU hauliers to continue to operate into Gibraltar.

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