Table-top exercise rehearses ‘no deal’ response

Civil Contingencies Coordinator Ivor Lopez led a table-top exercise last week to rehearse Gibraltar’s response in the event treaty negotiations lead to no deal.

The Gibraltar Government said it remained “fully committed” to agreeing a treaty but that it was “prudent” to plan for all eventualities.

The exercise involved departments, agencies and authorities of the Government of Gibraltar, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence.

This time representatives of the private sector were also included, these being the Chamber of Commerce, the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses, the Finance Centre Council and the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.

The private sector had also again been briefed fully on NNO preparations in July.

The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, who chairs the Brexit Strategic Group, briefly welcomed the participants and reminded them that the Government, together with the United Kingdom, is totally committed to arriving at an agreement with Spain and a treaty with the European Union.

However, he explained that the status quo was not an option and that Gibraltar would end up either in a treaty relationship or in a Non Negotiated Outcome situation.

“I want to thank the different entities who took part, the United Kingdom Government for their support and in particular the representatives of the private sector for their invaluable contribution,” he said.