'Treaty Bill' to be published this week

The new European Union Relations Bill is due to be published this week. 

This bill will allow Gibraltar to implement all necessary changes to local law as required by the treaty, ahead of its scheduled implementation on the 10th of April.

As Parliament adjourned on Wednesday, the Chief Minister told the house it was the government’s intention to publish the bill early this week.

The Chief Minister has said that creating this one law ensures Gibraltar will be in line with various legal stipulations in the incoming treaty, as soon as it is implemented.

Fabian Picardo said the bill would have to be fast-tracked and presented as urgent, meaning he was unable to give the usual six weeks of notice ahead of its publication.

However he did say he intended to share the bill with the Leader of the Opposition as soon as possible, with Parliament due to sit next Monday.

The EU Relations or Treaty Bill will give rise to secondary pieces of more specific legislation and regulations in the weeks and months to come.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister, John Cortes, announced a raft of regulations and Bills, which he called a natural extension of Gibraltar’s ongoing commitment to meeting standards in line with those of the EU.

They cover issues including clean vehicles, alternative fuel infrastructure and long term climate objectives.