Underlying currents
Last week, the sinking of the oil tanker 'Prestige' sent a flurry of accusations from Spain. The crying, however, seems to be over Gibraltar rather than spilt oil in London
Oil covered seabirds lying stricken on beaches are the first image of any tanker disaster and usually the starting point for an avalanche of recrimination, writes James Corbett. As the stricken Liberian vessel, Prestige, disintegrated and sank 150 miles off the coast of North West Spain last week, taking much of its 77,000 tonnes of heavy oil with it to the bottom of the Atlantic, the appearance of the first oil sodden bird on the covers of Europe's newspapers marked the start of an almighty row that transcended the sinking's environmental and logistical implications.
Environmental groups, however, invariably made the opening shots, furious at the seeping oil's impact on one of Europe's richest fish breeding grounds and most unspoilt coastlines. The slick was the continent's worst for nearly a decade, though many of the environmentalists' fears were more imagined than real. The Prestige was too far off the coast and leaking too little oil to cause lasting, much less catastrophic, damage. Experts say that the nine-tenths of the Prestige's cargo, that sank with the ship to a depth of 3,600 metres will, under cold temperatures and pressure, turn into a gel, which may in time float to the surface, but will probably stay at the bottom of the Atlantic for decades, doing little harm. Warnings of a time bomb under the ocean seemed a little premature.
More intriguing was the resultant political furore. It began with the European Union's (EU) Transport Commissioner, Loyola de Palacio, a Spaniard, using the sinking to launch a vigorous attack on Britain. Though commissioners -- individual national nominees who head EU departments -- are sworn to leave national loyalties at home, Commissioner de Palacio has a reputation for the zeal with which she defends Spanish interests. Her first line was that the Prestige should have been properly inspected in the British colony of Gibraltar when it called there, and had not been. She went further, bizarrely adding that it was another example of the tax evasion and smuggling that Spaniards claim typify the colony's trade with the outside world.
Next up was Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. He said that it was "very plain" that the ship had been bound for Gibraltar; an "objective fact" opined his deputy Mariono Roy. Their implication was that the Prestige was dropping off petrol in Gibraltar to avoid paying Spanish taxes.
Britain rejected both claims. The Prestige had in fact been destined for Singapore. As for the question of inspection, EU countries are meant to inspect a quarter of all ships visiting their ports. Over the previous five years the Prestige had called at ports all over the EU, including Algeciras and Las Palmas in Spain. It had moored just once at Gibraltar, although outside the port, in order to refuel.
To an objective mind, the Prestige tanker had nothing to do with Britain. Greek-owned and captained, Liberian registered and embarking on a journey from Latvia to Singapore. Why then the series of Spanish catcalls? Underlying the diplomatic antagonism is the issue of Gibraltar, over which both countries -- against Gibraltarian wishes -- want to share sovereignty.
In recent weeks, talks on the issue seem to have broken down, causing barely suppressed fury in Madrid. The sinking of the Prestige was Spain's first subsequent opportunity to assault the British Government.
Spain has contested the status of the British controlled Rock of Gibraltar for almost 300 years. Strategically important, this Pillar of Hercules keeps watch over the intersection of Europe and Africa and the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. During British rule, Spain has tried, on numerous occasions, to wrest back control of Gibraltar, imposing 15 sieges, and from 1969 closing the border for 16 years, in an effort to economically suffocate the tiny outpost. More recently Gibraltarians have complained of harassment and obfuscation from Spanish border guards whenever they make the short journey into Spain.
Over the last 18 months, London has tried to reach an agreement with Madrid over the disputed territory and earlier this year seemed to have struck a deal over joint sovereignty. It is of little coincidence that such rapprochement comes at a time when Britain has been seeking stronger allegiances on the European stage. Sidelined over its refusal to join the single currency and for its unwavering support of the US and Israel, Prime Minister Tony Blair has made strenuous efforts to gain strategic partners. His efforts have been made more vigorous by a renewal of the Franco- German alliance, which is at the heart of the continent's decision-making process, and has seen EU politics take on a more federalist complexion.
Blair's manoeuvering has seen the growth of an unlikely axis with Spain and Italy. This axis has been used to undermine European social legislation, attempts at further federalisation, as well as underpin Blair's ardent support for the US.
Gibraltar has been the carrot that Blair has dangled in front of Aznar in order to gain his support. This, however, has met with the unremitting hostility of the 35,000 who live in the tiny colony. Mindful of the weight of history and the more recent memory of intimidation by the Spanish Government and its authorities, Gibraltarians have been wholly opposed to any question of joint sovereignty. A recent, albeit unofficial, referendum held earlier this month concluded that 99 per cent of its residents wished to remain a British colony.
It was the sort of electoral result that set Blair back-peddling. From having virtually agreed joint sovereignty over the summer, the issue has seemingly been brushed under the carpet. As his spokesman said, "All along we have said that no deal will be imposed on the people of Gibraltar without their support in a referendum. That remains the bottom line."
This was a new take, angering the Spanish Government and served as the prompt for their angry riposte last week. Even before the referendum, the talks were reportedly in trouble and with the latest row may now be as shipwrecked as the Prestige itself. Moreover, it may serve to undermine Blair's alliance with Spain and Italy, leaving Britain ever more isolated on the European stage.
