The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opted for silence after Gibraltar's government defied Spain by stating that the Eastside urban development project will proceed, even though it encroaches upon Spanish waters. While Spain has repeatedly protested the project, stating that it violates international and environmental laws, the UK continues to support Gibraltar.
Spain has formally communicated its concerns to the European Commission and the British government. The European Commission could potentially bring the matter to the European Court of Justice, while the UK could halt the project. However, the UK's support for Gibraltar and the ongoing negotiations for a new treaty post-Brexit have prevented such actions. The British government maintains that the project is legal within their territorial waters.
The secrecy surrounding negotiations between Spain and the UK is raising concerns among the Spanish opposition. The Spanish Foreign Minister faced criticism in the Senate regarding the lack of transparency and the apparent lack of progress on the Gibraltar treaty, five years after Brexit. While both governments claim negotiations are ongoing, the lack of public information fosters mistrust.