THE European Union has slammed the Junta for failing to take action after figures were published showing high levels of cancer in Gibraltar.

Andalucian officials were blamed for not investigating why the number of people hospitalised by tumours is greater on the rock than other areas of the region.

It is feared that these alarming figures for both the Rock and the Campo de Gibraltar area are caused by oil refineries in the Gibraltar bay.

“The inhabitants of Gibraltar and Campo de Gibraltar believe that they have the right to health just like other areas of Andalucia and the right to know why they die earlier here than in other similar areas.”

The European Parliament Petitions Commission is now urging the Spanish and British governments to identify the cause of the worrying levels.

The Gibraltar government has already begun gathering data for the study, but the Junta has refused to cooperate.

“The inhabitants of Gibraltar and Campo de Gibraltar believe that they have the right to health just like other areas of Andalucia and the right to know why they die earlier here than in other similar areas,” the Commission said in a statement.

“The relevant European, Spanish, British and Andalucian legislation gives them this right, but the public body responsible for this refuses to do so.”

Subscribe to the Olive Press

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.