(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for firms authorised and having their head office in Gibraltar to exercise rights to establish branches and provide services in the United Kingdom, corresponding to the "passport" rights of firms authorised in other EEA States, under the EC single market directives relating to financial services. The rights in question of such Gibraltar-based firms are equivalent to "passport rights" under the banking consolidation directive (2000/12/EC) (so far as relating only to activities falling within items 1 to 6 in Annex 1 to that directive), and under the insurance directives (73/239/EEC; 88/357/EEC; 92/49/EEC; 79/267/EEC; 90/619/EEC; and 92/96/EEC).

The Order also makes provision about firms authorised in other EEA States which have exercised their rights under any of the single market directives to "passport" into Gibraltar. Article 3 provides that where such firms carry on in the UK activities covered by their "passport", they qualify for authorisation under Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. It also imposes on such firms obligations to inform the Financial Services Authority of changes relating to the establishment of branches or the provision of services in the United Kingdom.

Article 4 provides for UK firms which seek to establish branches or provide services in Gibraltar to be treated equivalently to those exercising "passport" rights under any of the single market directives to establish branches or provide services in other EEA States.