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GIBRALTAR
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. The landscape is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar at the foot of which is a densely populated city area, home to over 30,000 people, primarily Gibraltarians
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
IBERIAN PENINSULA
Located on the southwestern tip of the European continent, the Iberian Peninsula , includes the countries of Andorra, Portugal and Spain, and the British Crown colony of Gibraltar.
WHY IS GIBRALTAR BRITISH?
- It’s one of 14 territories from the days of the British Empire that’s still owned by the UK.
- Spain lost Gibraltar to an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704 and officially handed it to London in 1713.
- Spain has wanted it back ever since.
- But in two fairly recent referendums – 1968 and 2002 – the people of Gibraltar chose to remain under British rule rather than Spanish.
- Gibraltar’s important strategic position – as an entrance to the Mediterranean – is one of the reasons Britain has wanted to keep hold of it.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BREXIT?
The people who live in Gibraltar are British citizens, so they also got to vote in the EU referendum. They voted to stay in the EU – a massive 96% chose to remain – but will be leaving with the rest of the UK.
BREXIT AND GIBRALTAR
VICTORY FOR SPAIN?
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a press conference in the immediate aftermath of the remaining 27 EU leaders giving Mrs. May’s Brexit deal the nod, that Spain has been given the upper hand with future negotiations over the Rock. He said: “This puts Spain in a position of strength in negotiations with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar that we have not had until now.” Referring to Gibraltar
THERESA MAY UNDER PRESSURE
Theresa May has been accused of betrayal after giving way to Spain’s demands over the future of Gibraltar Once the UK has left the EU, Gibraltar’s political, legal and even geographic relationship with the EU will go through Spain
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