David Cameron spoke to the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy today amid growing tensions between London and Madrid over the country's plans to introduce "disproportionate" border checks with Gibraltar.
His intervention came after Giles Paxman, the UK's ambassador to Spain, delivered a formal protest over the moves.
A No10 spokesman said Mr Cameron had raised “serious concerns” over the moves and had obtained a promise from Mr Rajoy that Spain would scale down frontier checks.
The spokesman said: “The PM made clear our position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar and its surrounding waters will not change. He also reiterated, as the PM and Mr Rajoy had previously agreed, that the issue should not damage our bilateral relations.
“However, there was a real risk of this happening unless the situation at the border improved. Mr Rajoy agreed that he did not want the issue to become an obstacle in the bilateral relations and that we needed to find a way to de-escalate the issue.”
He said: “In the meantime, Prime Minister Rajoy committed to reducing measures at the border. Both leaders agreed that there should be a solution to the fishing dispute.”
Downing Street has already signalled its "serious concerns" over the situation and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague has promised to give full support to Gibraltarians during the stand-off. Mr Cameron was briefed on the crisis upon his return from holiday.
Mr Paxman delivered the protest to Gonzalo de Benito, the Spanish foreign secretary. It follows the announcement by Jose Garcia-Margallo, a foreign minister, of proposals to levy border crossing fees and other punitive measures against Gibraltar.
A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Paxman demanded an explanation of the comments and "reiterated that the UK would stand shoulder to shoulder with Gibraltar in face of threats from Spain".
Relations between Gibraltar and Spain have deteriorated in recent months in a row over fishing grounds, with Madrid raised prospect of imposing a 50 euro (£43) levy on vehicles crossing the border and the possibility of closing airspace.
Mr Garcia-Margallo said the proceeds of a border fee could be used to help Spanish fishermen who have lost out because of damage to fishing grounds allegedly caused by Gibraltarian authorities following the creation of an artificial reef.
Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo, likened the comments coming out of Madrid to something from the Franco era.
The Foreign Secretary yesterday offered his support to Mr Picardo and emphasised that the UK "stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar" at a time of "increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric".
The European Commission has confirmed that controls are allowed on the border because Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen Borders Agreement, which permits people to travel freely within the Schengen area of 26 countries.
A No10 spokesman said Mr Cameron had raised “serious concerns” over the moves and had obtained a promise from Mr Rajoy that Spain would scale down frontier checks.
The spokesman said: “The PM made clear our position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar and its surrounding waters will not change. He also reiterated, as the PM and Mr Rajoy had previously agreed, that the issue should not damage our bilateral relations.
“However, there was a real risk of this happening unless the situation at the border improved. Mr Rajoy agreed that he did not want the issue to become an obstacle in the bilateral relations and that we needed to find a way to de-escalate the issue.”
He said: “In the meantime, Prime Minister Rajoy committed to reducing measures at the border. Both leaders agreed that there should be a solution to the fishing dispute.”
Downing Street has already signalled its "serious concerns" over the situation and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague has promised to give full support to Gibraltarians during the stand-off. Mr Cameron was briefed on the crisis upon his return from holiday.
Mr Paxman delivered the protest to Gonzalo de Benito, the Spanish foreign secretary. It follows the announcement by Jose Garcia-Margallo, a foreign minister, of proposals to levy border crossing fees and other punitive measures against Gibraltar.
A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Paxman demanded an explanation of the comments and "reiterated that the UK would stand shoulder to shoulder with Gibraltar in face of threats from Spain".
Relations between Gibraltar and Spain have deteriorated in recent months in a row over fishing grounds, with Madrid raised prospect of imposing a 50 euro (£43) levy on vehicles crossing the border and the possibility of closing airspace.
Mr Garcia-Margallo said the proceeds of a border fee could be used to help Spanish fishermen who have lost out because of damage to fishing grounds allegedly caused by Gibraltarian authorities following the creation of an artificial reef.
Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo, likened the comments coming out of Madrid to something from the Franco era.
The Foreign Secretary yesterday offered his support to Mr Picardo and emphasised that the UK "stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar" at a time of "increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric".
The European Commission has confirmed that controls are allowed on the border because Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen Borders Agreement, which permits people to travel freely within the Schengen area of 26 countries.
David Cameron spoke to the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy today amid growing tensions between London and Madrid over the country's plans to introduce "disproportionate" border checks with Gibraltar.
His intervention came after Giles Paxman, the UK's ambassador to Spain, delivered a formal protest over the moves.
A No10 spokesman said Mr Cameron had raised “serious concerns” over the moves and had obtained a promise from Mr Rajoy that Spain would scale down frontier checks.
The spokesman said: “The PM made clear our position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar and its surrounding waters will not change. He also reiterated, as the PM and Mr Rajoy had previously agreed, that the issue should not damage our bilateral relations.
“However, there was a real risk of this happening unless the situation at the border improved. Mr Rajoy agreed that he did not want the issue to become an obstacle in the bilateral relations and that we needed to find a way to de-escalate the issue.”
He said: “In the meantime, Prime Minister Rajoy committed to reducing measures at the border. Both leaders agreed that there should be a solution to the fishing dispute.”
Downing Street has already signalled its "serious concerns" over the situation and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague has promised to give full support to Gibraltarians during the stand-off. Mr Cameron was briefed on the crisis upon his return from holiday.
Mr Paxman delivered the protest to Gonzalo de Benito, the Spanish foreign secretary. It follows the announcement by Jose Garcia-Margallo, a foreign minister, of proposals to levy border crossing fees and other punitive measures against Gibraltar.
A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Paxman demanded an explanation of the comments and "reiterated that the UK would stand shoulder to shoulder with Gibraltar in face of threats from Spain".
Relations between Gibraltar and Spain have deteriorated in recent months in a row over fishing grounds, with Madrid raised prospect of imposing a 50 euro (£43) levy on vehicles crossing the border and the possibility of closing airspace.
Mr Garcia-Margallo said the proceeds of a border fee could be used to help Spanish fishermen who have lost out because of damage to fishing grounds allegedly caused by Gibraltarian authorities following the creation of an artificial reef.
Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo, likened the comments coming out of Madrid to something from the Franco era.
The Foreign Secretary yesterday offered his support to Mr Picardo and emphasised that the UK "stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar" at a time of "increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric".
The European Commission has confirmed that controls are allowed on the border because Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen Borders Agreement, which permits people to travel freely within the Schengen area of 26 countries.
A No10 spokesman said Mr Cameron had raised “serious concerns” over the moves and had obtained a promise from Mr Rajoy that Spain would scale down frontier checks.
The spokesman said: “The PM made clear our position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar and its surrounding waters will not change. He also reiterated, as the PM and Mr Rajoy had previously agreed, that the issue should not damage our bilateral relations.
“However, there was a real risk of this happening unless the situation at the border improved. Mr Rajoy agreed that he did not want the issue to become an obstacle in the bilateral relations and that we needed to find a way to de-escalate the issue.”
He said: “In the meantime, Prime Minister Rajoy committed to reducing measures at the border. Both leaders agreed that there should be a solution to the fishing dispute.”
Downing Street has already signalled its "serious concerns" over the situation and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague has promised to give full support to Gibraltarians during the stand-off. Mr Cameron was briefed on the crisis upon his return from holiday.
Mr Paxman delivered the protest to Gonzalo de Benito, the Spanish foreign secretary. It follows the announcement by Jose Garcia-Margallo, a foreign minister, of proposals to levy border crossing fees and other punitive measures against Gibraltar.
A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Paxman demanded an explanation of the comments and "reiterated that the UK would stand shoulder to shoulder with Gibraltar in face of threats from Spain".
Relations between Gibraltar and Spain have deteriorated in recent months in a row over fishing grounds, with Madrid raised prospect of imposing a 50 euro (£43) levy on vehicles crossing the border and the possibility of closing airspace.
Mr Garcia-Margallo said the proceeds of a border fee could be used to help Spanish fishermen who have lost out because of damage to fishing grounds allegedly caused by Gibraltarian authorities following the creation of an artificial reef.
Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo, likened the comments coming out of Madrid to something from the Franco era.
The Foreign Secretary yesterday offered his support to Mr Picardo and emphasised that the UK "stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar" at a time of "increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric".
The European Commission has confirmed that controls are allowed on the border because Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen Borders Agreement, which permits people to travel freely within the Schengen area of 26 countries.