In 1704 the rocky outcrop of Gibraltar was seized by British and Dutch forces during the Spanish Wars of Succession. It was later formally ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Since then the Spanish have longed for the return of Gibraltar going as far as to besiege Gibraltar in 1727 and also between 1779-1783.
The current inhabitants of Gibraltar are most certainly not Spanish and consider themselves as British as you can be. In 1967 and 2002 referendums were held regarding Gibraltan sovereignty, the Gibraltans voted 99.64% and 98.48% to remain British respectively.
The actions of successive Spanish governments has been to reject Gibraltan democracy and demand the British open talks over Gibraltan sovereignty. In response to the 1967 Gibraltan referendum, Spain, under dictator Francisco Franco, closed the border between Spain and Gibraltar until Spain's accession to the EU in 1985.
In recent days the dispute has flared up again. The Spanish have tightened security along the Gibraltar-Spain border, causing queues that last over seven hours. Unbearable in the south Mediterranean heat. To make matters worse border controls have started to charge people crossing over €50! This is in reaction to Gibraltar creating an artificial reef, which Spanish fisherman claim damages their livelihoods. Tensions were heightened as British war ships will be stopping off in Gibraltar on their way to military exercises in the Mediterranean.
It is not just the Spanish governments that believe that Gibraltar should be Spanish, it is the Spanish people. Yet the Spanish fail to understand their extreme hypocrisy, Spain has two cities on the Moroccan coast, Ceuta and Melilla, very similar to Gibraltar. A 2007 poll showed 88% of Spaniards considered the cities Spanish and 50% said that they did not understand the Moroccan claim! Now I fully support the ability of the citizens of Ceuta and Melilla to decide their own fate - but for Spaniards to claim Gibraltans have no right to decide their own fate, is pure hypocrisy.
The current inhabitants of Gibraltar are most certainly not Spanish and consider themselves as British as you can be. In 1967 and 2002 referendums were held regarding Gibraltan sovereignty, the Gibraltans voted 99.64% and 98.48% to remain British respectively.
The actions of successive Spanish governments has been to reject Gibraltan democracy and demand the British open talks over Gibraltan sovereignty. In response to the 1967 Gibraltan referendum, Spain, under dictator Francisco Franco, closed the border between Spain and Gibraltar until Spain's accession to the EU in 1985.
In recent days the dispute has flared up again. The Spanish have tightened security along the Gibraltar-Spain border, causing queues that last over seven hours. Unbearable in the south Mediterranean heat. To make matters worse border controls have started to charge people crossing over €50! This is in reaction to Gibraltar creating an artificial reef, which Spanish fisherman claim damages their livelihoods. Tensions were heightened as British war ships will be stopping off in Gibraltar on their way to military exercises in the Mediterranean.
It is not just the Spanish governments that believe that Gibraltar should be Spanish, it is the Spanish people. Yet the Spanish fail to understand their extreme hypocrisy, Spain has two cities on the Moroccan coast, Ceuta and Melilla, very similar to Gibraltar. A 2007 poll showed 88% of Spaniards considered the cities Spanish and 50% said that they did not understand the Moroccan claim! Now I fully support the ability of the citizens of Ceuta and Melilla to decide their own fate - but for Spaniards to claim Gibraltans have no right to decide their own fate, is pure hypocrisy.
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| The Rock of Gibraltar, as seen from Spain source: www.euroreporter.co |
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