M/S Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Minister of Governance and Institutional Relations of Catalonia Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida SOT Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo (in Spanish): "Felipe Gonzalez [former Spanish president] said that Gibraltar's problem has a logical solution: the devolution to Spain of a piece of Spanish territory, the same thought with different words. I am sure that I will count on your efforts and support to achieve the goals I just pointed out." M/S Member of the opposition SOT Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo (in Spanish): "We have forbidden importations of those materials that could contribute to perpetrate an environmental crime. The State Secretary of the European Union has notified the Commission of the EU that we understand that environmental damage has been done, that the communitarian legislation on protection has been violated and I say today that Spain will accept from this very moment on any decision adopted by the Commission and the Court of Justice, since legality is the only legal framework in which Spain is acting." W/S Spanish Congress of Deputies SCRIPT Spain: Gibraltar should be given back to us - Minister of Foreign Affairs The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo suggested on Tuesday in Madrid that the overseas UK territory of Gibraltar should be given back to Spain. Margallo said that Gibraltar is a national priority. He said, "Felipe Gonzalez [former Spanish president] said that Gibraltar's problem had a logical solution: the return to Spain of a piece of Spanish territory, the same thought with different words. I am sure that I will count on your efforts and support to achieve the goals I just pointed out." Margallo commented on the import ban on construction materials to Gibraltar and went on to assure that the Spanish Government will respect European authorities' decision on the subject: "We have forbidden importations of those materials that could contribute to perpetrate an environmental crime. The State Secretary of the European Union has notified the Commission of the EU that we understand that environmental damage has been done, that the communitarian legislation has been violated on protection and I say today that Spain will accept from this very moment on any decision adopted by the Commission and the Court of Justice, since legality is the only legal framework in which Spain is acting." Margallo also highlighted the Spanish government's desire for dialogue saying they are eager to organize debate groups between the corresponding authorities.

• published: 03 Sep 2013
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