Disputed status of Gibraltar - wikipedia Disputed status of Gibraltar Jump to : navigation , search The neutrality of this article 's introduction is disputed . Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page . Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met . ( December 2016 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) The lead section of this article may need to be rewritten . Please discuss this issue on the article 's talk page . Use the lead layout guide to ensure the section follows Wikipedia 's norms and to be inclusive of all essential details . ( December 2016 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) Gibraltar This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Gibraltar Constitution ( show ) Constitution of Gibraltar Constitution Order 1950 Constitution Order 1964 Constitution Order 1969 Constitution Order 2006 The Crown ( show ) Monarch Queen Elizabeth II Governor Ed Davis Government ( show ) Chief Minister Fabian Picardo Council of Ministers Legislature ( show ) Parliament Speaker Adolfo J. Canepa Her Majesty 's Most Loyal Opposition Judiciary ( show ) Judiciary of Gibraltar Law of Gibraltar Elections ( show ) Elections Political parties Politicians Last election Next election Other ( show ) Disputed status of Gibraltar Sovereignty referendum , 1967 Sovereignty referendum , 2002 Gibraltar and Brexit Disputed status of the isthmus History of nationality Gibraltar passport Gibraltar identity card Political development in modern Gibraltar Other countries Atlas Gibraltar , a British Overseas Territory , located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula , is the subject of an irredentist territorial claim by Spain . It was captured in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession ( 1701 -- 1714 ) . The Spanish Crown formally ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown in 1713 , under Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht . Spain later attempted to recapture the territory during the thirteenth siege ( 1727 ) and the Great siege ( 1779 -- 1783 ) . British sovereignty over Gibraltar was confirmed in later treaties signed in Seville ( 1729 ) and the Treaty of Paris ( 1783 ) . Reclamation of the territory became government policy under the regime of the dictator General Franco and has remained in place under successive governments following the Spanish transition to democracy . The Gibraltarians themselves reject any such claim and no political party or pressure group in Gibraltar supports union with Spain . In a referendum in 2002 the people of Gibraltar rejected a joint sovereignty proposal on which Spain and the United Kingdom were said to have reached `` broad agreement '' . The British Government has stated that it would `` never ... enter into an agreement on sovereignty without the agreement of the Government of Gibraltar and their people '' . The British Government now refuses to discuss sovereignty without the consent of the Gibraltarians . In 2000 , a political declaration of unity was signed by the members of the Gibraltar Parliament ; it stated `` In essence the declaration stated that the people of Gibraltar will never compromise , give up or trade their sovereignty or their right to self - determination ; that Gibraltar wants good , neighbourly , European relations with Spain ; and that Gibraltar belongs to the people of Gibraltar and is neither Spain 's to claim or Britain 's to give away . '' Spain insists on a bilateral agreement with the UK over sovereignty , whereas the UK will only discuss sovereignty if Gibraltar is included in the discussions . The United Nations understanding of the positions of each party is set out in their 2016 report . The UN considers Gibraltar a Non-Self - Governing Territory . Contents ( hide ) 1 Capture of Gibraltar and the Treaty of Utrecht 2 Differing positions 2.1 Spanish position 2.2 British position 2.3 Gibraltarian position 3 Resolution discussions 4 Gibraltar political development 5 Areas of contention 5.1 The isthmus 5.2 Territorial waters 5.3 Economy 5.4 Military importance 6 Re-emergence of dispute 6.1 1953 : Rekindling the dispute 6.2 1967 and 2002 referendums 6.3 Spanish restrictions 6.4 Disputes prior to Brexit 6.5 The effect of Brexit 7 See also 8 References 8.1 Notes 8.2 Sources 8.3 Further reading Capture of Gibraltar and the Treaty of Utrecht ( edit ) Main articles : Capture of Gibraltar and Treaty of Utrecht Statue of Admiral Sir George Rooke at Waterport Avenue in Gibraltar Gibraltar was captured in 1704 by a force led by Admiral Sir George Rooke representing the Grand Alliance on behalf of the Archduke Charles , pretender to the Spanish Throne . After the battle , almost all the original inhabitants decided to leave to the surrounding areas of Campo de Gibraltar . Spanish attempts to regain the territory in the Twelfth Siege of Gibraltar failed , and it was eventually ceded to the Kingdom of Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht as part of the settlement of the War of the Spanish Succession . In that treaty , Spain ceded to Great Britain `` the full and entire propriety of the town and castle of Gibraltar , together with the port , fortifications , and forts thereunto belonging ... for ever , without any exception or impediment whatsoever . '' Should the British Crown ever wish to relinquish Gibraltar , a reversion clause holds that the territory would first be offered to Spain , `` And in case it shall hereafter seem meet to the Crown of Great Britain to grant , sell or by any means to alienate therefrom the propriety of the said town of Gibraltar , it is hereby agreed and concluded that the preference of having the sale shall always be given to the Crown of Spain before any others . '' Furthermore , the Treaty stipulates `` that the above - named propriety be yielded to Great Britain without any territorial jurisdiction , and without any open communication by land with the country round about '' ( although there is dispute over whether this disclaims territorial jurisdiction over Gibraltar , or over the `` country round about '' ) and that no overland trade between Gibraltar and Spain is to take place , except for emergency provisions in the case that Gibraltar is unable to be resupplied by sea . The British Government and the Government of Gibraltar today argue that the membership of both Gibraltar and Spain in the European Union ( EU ) -- Gibraltar was included as a Special member state territory when the United Kingdom joined the EU in 1973 ; Spain joined the EU in 1986 -- supersedes such restrictions as the EU is committed to free movement of goods and services . Differing positions ( edit ) The United Nations February 2016 report sets out the differing points of view of the various parties with regard to Gibraltar which the United Nations considers to be a Non-Self - Governing Territory administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . Gibraltar was given the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 by Britain which established a form of government whereby the Governor of Gibraltar is responsible for the conduct of external affairs , defence , internal security and for certain appointments to public office , and the Government of Gibraltar is made responsible for all other matters . The UK believes that as an independent territory , recognised by the United Nations Gibraltar enjoys the individual and collective rights that are set out in the 2006 constitution and the right of self - determination . Spain disputes the legality of the constitution and claims that it does not change the position of Gibraltar as a colony of the UK with only the UK empowered to discuss Gibraltar matters on the international scene . The territorial government of Gibraltar , based on law in the 2006 constitution , collects its own taxes and budgets its costs and capital expenditure , with maximum personal tax rates of 28 % and company tax of 10 % . Spain notes that the European Commission is investigating the tax regime of Gibraltar and that Spain considers Gibraltar a tax haven . The UK believes Gibraltar meets all EU laws regarding the issues of anti money laundering , direct taxation and financial supervision . Gibraltar has a robust financial regulation system with anti tax evasion agreements on exchange of tax information with 79 countries including all the EU nations except Spain who have not responded . The UK asked for Gibraltar to be subject to an EU evaluation of anti money laundering issues . Spain recalls that crimes of tobacco smuggling and money - laundering from Gibraltar had been noted in an EU anti fraud report in 2014 . Crossing the land border between Gibraltar and Spain is subject to checks . Spain stresses that checks are not politically motivated , it being necessary to ensure strict compliance with EU border regulations to counter the common illicit trafficking issues and that Spain complies with the recommendations from the EU to improve the border crossing . The location of the checkpoint does not conform to the border recognised by Spain . The airport is a military area where civilian aircraft are permitted to operate . Spain claims the airfield is occupied illegally by the UK . The UK claims its sovereignty extends over the isthmus area on which the airfield is built . The UK also claims a three - mile limit in the territorial waters around Gibraltar whereas Spain claims maritime rights to all areas except inside the ports on Gibraltar . UK claimed incursions of Spanish vessels into Gibraltar territorial waters being considered by Spain to be routine activity of Spanish ships in their own waters . In 2004 a system of trilateral discussion began with Spain , the UK and Gibraltar participating . The discussions ended in 2010 with the UK and Gibraltar asking for their continuance from 2012 to 2014 . Spain stating they believed the forum no longer existed and that only ad hoc discussions on local issues should take place with Campo de Gibraltar also included . In 2015 the UK reaffirmed its claim to sovereignty , that Gibraltar had its right to self - determination set out in the 2006 constitution and that the UK would not enter into any sovereignty discussions unless Gibraltar agreed and further that the UK was committed to safeguarding Gibraltar , its people and its economy . The UK claimed sovereignty over land extended over the sea to a limit of three miles or to the median line under the UN convention on the Law of the Sea . Any discussion must include Gibraltar as their constitution gave them sole powers over many issues . Gibraltar claimed it remained the last colony in Europe only because the Government of Spain insisted the inalienable principle of self - determination should not apply to Gibraltarians with Spain blocking the annual request for Gibraltar to be removed from the UN list of Non-Self - Governing Territories . The Gibraltarian government asserts that Gibraltar has been effectively decolonised . Spain claiming that the UK was refusing to negotiate on sovereignty . That the land occupied by the UK was greater than that ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht and that it was the restoration of Spanish territorial integrity that was the key , not self - determination . The 2006 constitution had not changed the international status of Gibraltar with the local authorities having no right to interfere in the negotiations about the illegal occupation of Spanish territory . Spain would not agree to any situation that was detrimental to people in the area or to the finances of Spain or the EU . The border checks were EU regulated and designed to stop illegal trafficking of tobacco that was costing the region tax revenue . Spain was happy to discuss sovereignty issues with the UK and for four way ad hoc discussion on local issues . Spanish position ( edit ) The neutrality of this section is disputed . Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page . Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met . ( December 2016 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) The traditional Spanish position is based on territorial integrity , as per UN Resolution 1514 ( XV ) ( 1960 ) , which according to Spain complements and constrains the right to self - determination : `` Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations . '' During the 1960s , the UN General Assembly passed five resolutions on the issue ( 2231 ( XXI ) , `` Question of Gibraltar '' and 2353 ( XXII ) , `` Question of Gibraltar '' ) . The resolutions on the decolonisation of Gibraltar focused on the `` interests '' and not the `` wishes '' of the Gibraltarians . The latter resolution states that : any colonial situation which partially or completely destroys the national unity and territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and especially with paragraph 6 of Resolution 1514 ( XV ) of the General Assembly ( ... ) Invites the Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume without delay the negotiations provided for in General Assembly Resolutions 2070 ( XX ) and 2231 ( XXI ) , with a view to putting an end to the colonial situation in Gibraltar and to safeguarding the interests of the population . From such a point of view , Gibraltarians are seen as mere `` settlers '' from the United Kingdom and other countries and only their interests , not their wishes ( as the right to self - determination would involve ) , need be safeguarded . The point of view that they were settlers is supported by the fact that following the 1704 capture of Gibraltar by Anglo - Dutch troops , only around 70 out of the original 5,000 Spanish inhabitants chose to remain in Gibraltar . Therefore , Spain has insisted that the Gibraltar dispute is a purely bilateral matter with the United Kingdom and has ignored the role and will of the Gibraltarians . The first formal proposal on how to achieve the return of Gibraltar to Spain was made on 18 May 1966 by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs , Fernando Castiella . The proposal comprised three clauses : `` The cancellation of the Treaty of Utrecht and the subsequent return of Gibraltar to Spain . '' `` The stay of the British base in Gibraltar , its use being subject to a specific Anglo - Spanish agreement . '' `` A ' Personal Statute ' for Gibraltarians , under United Nations guarantee , protecting their cultural , social and economic interest in Gibraltar or anywhere else in Spain , including their British nationality . An ' appropriate ... administrative formula ' should be also agreed . '' The proposal was rejected by the British Government and by the Gibraltarians , which overwhelmingly voted to remain under British sovereignty in a referendum held in 1967 ( 12,138 to 44 ) . As a result , the UN General Assembly adopted during its twenty - third session resolution 2429 of 1968 ( XXIII ) denounced the 1967 referendum and requested the United Kingdom not delay negotiations . No further advance for the Spanish claims was achieved for the following forty years . In view of that , the Spanish position seems to have softened , being redirected towards some form of temporary or permanent arrangement to achieve joint sovereignty , which has been proposed by Spain and discussed with the British Government . Such a proposal was tabled by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs , Fernando Morán , in 1985 . The details of the proposal were not made public , but information released showed an offer on a treaty with the United Kingdom in order to `` re-integrate '' Gibraltar with Spain , while preserving Gibraltarians ' way of life . They would keep their British nationality , as well as their existing political and labour rights , self - government and institutions . Morán proposed that a condominium or leaseback arrangement should be agreed , over a 15 or 20 - year period . This proposal was not formally rejected by Douglas Hurd , the British Foreign Secretary , until 1993 . In 1997 a second proposal was made by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs , Abel Matutes , foreseeing a hundred - year period of joint sovereignty before a definite transfer to Spain . A similar scheme was provisionally agreed between the Spanish and British governments in the spring of 2002 , but this was eventually abandoned , after sustained opposition by the Gibraltarians that included the Gibraltar sovereignty referendum of 2002 . British position ( edit ) In his evidence to the UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee in 2008 , Jim Murphy MP , Minister of State for Europe stated : The UK Government will never enter into an agreement on sovereignty without the agreement of the Government of Gibraltar and their people . In fact , we will never even enter into a process without that agreement . The word ' never ' sends a substantial and clear commitment and has been used for a purpose . We have delivered that message with confidence to the peoples and the Governments of Gibraltar and Spain . It is a sign of the maturity of our relationship now that that is accepted as the UK 's position . The British Government has ruled out both the independence of Gibraltar where it refers to the Treaty of Utrecht as , according to the British view , it would require Spanish consent and Gibraltar 's integration into the United Kingdom . I will note that , in the view of Her Majesty 's Government , Gibraltar 's right of self determination is not constrained by the Treaty of Utrecht except in so far as Article X gives Spain the right of refusal should Britain ever renounce Sovereignty . Thus independence would only be an option with Spanish consent . The option of integration was rejected on 26 June 1976 , when the British Government issued the Hattersley Memorandum ruling out integration in order to `` avoid innovations which might result in prolongation of the frontier restrictions imposed by Spain . '' Gibraltarian position ( edit ) Gibraltar argues that the Spanish claims are baseless , pointing to the right to self - determination of all peoples , guaranteed and enshrined by the UN , according to the UN Charter . Its article 1 states that `` The Purposes of the United Nations are ... to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self - determination of peoples . '' To the same section 2 of Resolution 1514 ( XV ) states : `` All peoples have the right to self - determination ; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic , social and cultural development . '' Furthermore , resolution 2231 ( XXI ) itself recalls and demands implementation of Resolution 1514 ( XV ) ( guaranteeing Gibraltar 's right to self - determination ) and therefore it believes that the Spanish claim for its territorial integrity ( which would not be affected by Gibraltar 's decolonisation ) can not displace or extinguish the rights of the people of Gibraltar under resolution 1514 ( XV ) or under the Charter . From this point of view , any additional right that Spain could claim by virtue of the `` reversionary '' clause contained in the Treaty of Utrecht is overruled and annulled under article 103 of the UN Charter : `` In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the present Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement , their obligations under the present Charter shall prevail . '' Gibraltar National Day , 2013 Finally , it is argued that there is in fact no principle in International Law or UN doctrine that can displace the inalienable right to self - determination . In this regard , in 2008 , the UN 4th Committee rejected the claim that a dispute over sovereignty affected self - determination , affirming it to be a basic human right . The Gibraltar Government has also argued that Gibraltar is a British territory and therefore by definition not an integral part of any other state , implying that Spain 's territorial integrity can not be affected by anything that occurs in Gibraltar : `` Even if integration of a territory was demanded by an interested State it could not be had without ascertaining the freely expressed will of the people , the very sine qua non of all decolonisation . '' In a referendum held in Gibraltar in September 2002 , Gibraltarian voters rejected even partial Spanish sovereignty . Speaking to the UK Parliament Foreign Affairs committee in March 2008 Peter Caruana the Chief Minister of Gibraltar noted : Spain does not dispute that Gibraltar is properly , in law , British territory . Therefore , this is not disputed land . She has a political claim to the return of Gibraltar sovereignty , but she does not dispute the fact that in proper international law , she ceded sovereignty to Britain in perpetuity and therefore it is undisputed British sovereign territory . Gibraltarians seem to remain mistrustful of Spain despite improved relations . Resolution discussions ( edit ) Spain insisted that the Gibraltar dispute is a bilateral matter purely between the United Kingdom and Spain . This principle appears to have been reflected in the United Nations resolutions on the decolonisation of Gibraltar in the 1960s , which focused on the `` interests '' of the Gibraltarians . Speaking to the UN C24 in 2006 , the Chief Minister of Gibraltar , Peter Caruana , stated that `` It is well known and documented and accepted by all that , since 1988 , Gibraltar has rejected the bilateral Brussels Process , and will never be content with it . '' With the 2004 return of a centre - left wing government in Spain , a new Spanish position was adopted and , in December 2005 , the governments of the UK , Spain and Gibraltar agreed to set up `` a new , trilateral process of dialogue outside the Brussels Process '' with equal participation by the three parties , any decisions or agreements to be agreed by all three . This was ratified by the 2006 Cordoba Agreement . After meetings in Malaga ( Spain ) , Faro ( Portugal ) , and Mallorca ( Spain ) , the Spanish foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos went to Gibraltar in July 2009 to discuss a range of mutual issues . This was the first official Spanish visit since Gibraltar was ceded . The issue of sovereignty was not discussed . From 2010 Spain has claimed that the trilateral dialogue is finished and reverted to the original call for a bilateral agreement with the UK with four way ad hoc meetings which would include Campo de Gibraltar . Gibraltar political Development ( edit ) The Gibraltarians have sought a more modern status and relationship with the United Kingdom reflecting and expanding the present level of self - government . A new constitution order was approved in a referendum in 2006 , which moved Gibraltar to a more Crown dependency - like relationship with the UK , rather than the previous colonial status . The new constitution came into effect in January 2007 . Gibraltar is classified as a British overseas territory . In a letter to the UN the British representative , Emyr Jones Parry , writes : `` The new constitution provides for a modern relationship between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom . I do not think that this description would apply to any relationship based on colonialism . '' Chief Minister Peter Caruana addressed the UN Special Committee on Decolonization regarding the new constitution in 2008 . He put forth Gibraltar Government 's view that `` As far as we are concerned , the decolonisation of Gibraltar is no longer a pending issue . '' Parallel with this , the Government of Gibraltar has engaged in talks with Spain to resolve other disputes , setting aside the issue of sovereignty . Areas of Contention ( edit ) The isthmus ( edit ) Main article : Disputed status of the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain The territory of Gibraltar contains an 800 - metre ( 2,625 ft ) section of the isthmus that links the Rock with Spain . Although it is argued by Spain that this section of the isthmus was never ceded by Spain ; rather , it was gradually occupied de facto by the British , this section of the isthmus together with the other half of it north of the Gibraltar - Spain border was once labelled as neutral territory separating Spain from Gibraltar . The growth of Gibraltar onto the southern half of the isthmus began with the construction of two forts in the northernmost part of the ceded territory . In 1815 , Gibraltar suffered a yellow fever epidemic . This led to a Spanish concession so a temporary quarantine health camp could be built on the isthmus . After the plague was over , the British did not remove the camp . In 1854 , a new epidemic prompted more health camps , which eventually gained Gibraltar these extra 800 metres of land . The occupation of the isthmus culminated in 1938 with the construction of the aerodrome during the Spanish civil war . The Treaty of Utrecht did not mention British sovereignty over Gibraltar beyond the fortified perimeter of the town as it was in 1713 . However the Treaty ceded the town `` together with the port , fortifications , and forts thereunto belonging '' , which included several forts along the line of the current frontier . The United Kingdom further claims title to the southern half of the isthmus based on continuous possession over a long period . The northern half of the neutral territory was also taken over by Spain in the 1960s , during dictator Francisco Franco 's regime , and now forms an integral part of the Spanish municipality of La Línea de la Concepción . Territorial waters ( edit ) The treaty of Utrecht did not confer any territorial waters because Spain exclusively yielded the castle and the city of Gibraltar . Both the United Kingdom and Spain have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 , which governs countries ' oceanic territorial claims . Both countries made statements regarding Gibraltar in their declarations upon ratification of the Convention . The Spanish statement was : 2 . In ratifying the Convention , Spain wishes to make it known that this act can not be construed as recognition of any rights or status regarding the maritime space of Gibraltar that are not included in article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht of 13 July 1713 concluded between the Crowns of Spain and Great Britain . Furthermore , Spain does not consider that Resolution III of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea is applicable to the colony of Gibraltar , which is subject to a process of decolonization in which only relevant resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly are applicable . The British government responded to the Spanish statement in their own statement : With regard to point 2 of the declaration made upon ratification of the Convention by the Government of Spain , the Government of the United Kingdom has no doubt about the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over Gibraltar , including its territorial waters . The Government of the United Kingdom , as the administering authority of Gibraltar , has extended the United Kingdom 's accession to the Convention and ratification of the Agreement to Gibraltar . The Government of the United Kingdom , therefore , rejects as unfounded point 2 of the Spanish declaration . However , Articles 309 and 310 of the Convention state that `` No reservations or exceptions may be made to this Convention unless expressly permitted by other articles of this Convention '' , and that if a signatory state makes a declaration upon ratification , that declaration must `` not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of this Convention in their application '' to that state . The dispute over territorial waters , which was rekindled in 2013 following a fishing dispute seems likely to become more important with the discovery of a British treasure ship , HMS Sussex , and the Black Swan Project controversy . Questions about the waters have previously been asked in the House of Commons , and answered as follows : Under international law , States are entitled , but not required , to extend their territorial sea up to a maximum breadth of 12 nautical miles . Where the coasts of two States are opposite or adjacent , the general rule is that neither is entitled , unless they agree otherwise , to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line . The UK Government considers that a limit of three nautical miles is sufficient in the case of Gibraltar . The Government of Gibraltar for its part holds that there is no economic or social need for more than three nautical miles of territorial water . At the end of 2008 , the European Commission included most of the territorial waters that surround Gibraltar under a marine conservation area known as the `` Estrecho Oriental '' that will be maintained by Spain . The UK initiated legal proceedings with the support of Gibraltar , which were initially rejected by the General Court on procedural grounds . A 2011 appeal was dismissed , again on procedural grounds . The European Court of Justice had again ruled against that appeal in 2012 . There have been disputes concerning Spanish patrol boats inside these claimed territorial waters . In May 2009 there was a number of Spanish incursions into British - claimed waters around Gibraltar , including by a Spanish Navy fisheries protection vessel , leading to intervention by police and a diplomatic protest by the UK . Economy ( edit ) Main article : Economy of Gibraltar The Spanish government argues that Gibraltar 's tax schemes harm the Spanish economy . In January 2005 , the European Commissioner for Competition requested the UK ( responsible for Gibraltar 's external relations ) to abolish Gibraltar 's tax - exempt company regime by the end of 2010 ( at the latest ) on the basis that it constitutes illegal state aid that could distort competition . Unlike other tax havens like Andorra , Gibraltar has not signed a mutual agreement with Spain to exchange fiscal information , although such an agreement has been offered by the Gibraltar Government , but Spain has declined to accept it because does not consider Gibraltar as its diplomatic counterpart . Another concern is that each day thousands of Spaniards buy goods at cheaper prices in Gibraltar due to exchange rates and lack of VAT , contributing to the Gibraltar economy instead of that of Spain . The Spanish government wants to increase the exchange of fiscal information in order to prevent Gibraltar banks being used for tax evasion and money laundering . The United Kingdom House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee has directed an inquiry that determined that Gibraltar has always complied with all international and EU requirements to prevent such activity . We conclude that the series of allegations which Spain makes against Gibraltar appear almost wholly to be without substance . In many cases , it is not just the Government of Gibraltar but the British Government as well which is traduced . It is deeply regrettable that allegations are made that can not be sustained by a basis in fact . If concrete evidence of wrong - doing were produced , the British Government should act promptly to deal with the problem . But so long as allegations are unsubstantiated , the British Government should continue to rebut them promptly and decisively . Referred to as an `` international financial centre '' , Gibraltar was among 35 jurisdictions identified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) as a tax haven in June 2000 . As a result of having made a commitment in accordance with the OECD 's 2001 Progress Report on the OECD 's Project on Harmful Tax Practices , Gibraltar was not included in the OECD 's list of uncooperative tax havens . However , in its April 2009 progress report , the OECD listed Gibraltar in the list of jurisdictions that , although committed , had not `` substantially implemented '' yet the internationally agreed tax standard . Following Gibraltar 's signing of 12 additional Tax Information Exchange Agreements ( TIEAs ) , as of October 2009 , with jurisdictions including the UK , USA and Germany , Gibraltar was listed in the OECD `` white list '' . It is currently listed as `` largely compliant '' by the OECD 's Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes . Along with the Isle of Man and Cyprus , Gibraltar has been used as an international finance centre by the Russian conglomerate Yukos / Menatep . There have been claims that some Gibraltarian motorboats are engaging in drugs and tobacco smuggling . However , since 1996 there has been a law in Gibraltar controlling fast launches licensing their ownership and importation and prohibiting the entry of unlicensed craft into Gibraltar waters . In 2014 , inspectors from the EU 's fraud office OLAF wrote to the Spanish governments urging an investigation of tobacco smuggling , amid revelations that Gibraltar , with a population of less than 30,000 , imported 117 million packets of cigarettes in 2013 . In 2015 , Spanish authorities broke up a major tobacco smuggling operation , seizing 65,000 packs of cigarettes , five boats , two firearms , communications equipment and € 100,000 cash . Authorities estimated the group was smuggling 150,000 packs of contraband tobacco into Spain every week . Military importance ( edit ) Military control of the Strait of Gibraltar has historically been the most important use of Gibraltar , allowing Britain to defend its trade lanes to the East . The British admiral Lord Fisher stated that Gibraltar was one of the five keys that locked the world , together with Dover , Alexandria , Cape of Good Hope and Singapore , all of which were once controlled by Britain . Its military relevance has reduced with the construction in 1953 of the US Naval Station Rota ( the biggest Allied base in the area ) and with the end of the Cold War , but it is still an important position as more than one quarter of the global maritime traffic transits through the strait every year . Controlling the strait is of vital importance to NATO . The task of controlling the strait has been traditionally assigned by NATO to the UK , but the recent advances that Spain has made in its armed forces and the bases Spain has in the zone have made NATO reconsider this . However , the tense relations that Spain had with the American administration under George W. Bush and the special friendship of the US with the UK have caused NATO to take a more favourable position towards the UK and Morocco for control of the strait . Re-emergence of dispute ( edit ) 1953 : rekindling the dispute ( edit ) In May 1954 , despite objections by Spain , Queen Elizabeth II visited Gibraltar . Spanish dictator Francisco Franco had renewed claims to The Rock . British National Archives files from 1953 show that Franco claimed that Spain had been promised The Rock in return for not attacking the territory during the Second World War . The Foreign and Commonwealth Office conducted a full review of their files to see whether Franco 's claim had any foundation . A confidential memo called the Spanish communiqué `` a flimsy and unconvincing document '' , and the Government put an end to the dispute by refusing to comment on the claims . 1967 and 2002 referendums ( edit ) In a 1967 referendum on sovereignty organised by the British Government , 99.6 % of voters voted to remain under British sovereignty . In a second referendum on sovereignty held in November 2002 by the Government of Gibraltar , 187 voted yes ( 1 % ) and 17,900 voted no ( 99 % ) on the proposal of sharing sovereignty with Spain . The question put was : 25,000 Gibraltarians demonstrate against joint sovereignty proposals on 18 March 2002 On the 12 July 2002 the Foreign Secretary , Jack Straw , in a formal statement in the House of Commons , said that after twelve months of negotiation the British Government and Spain are in broad agreement on many of the principles that should underpin a lasting settlement of Spain 's sovereignty claim , which included the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar . Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar ? Spanish reaction varied from questioning the validity of the process , to observing that no Spanish government has done enough to make joint sovereignty or integration with Spain an attractive prospect . It is reported that Spanish `` secret funds '' were used to create a favourable opinion in Gibraltar to the Spanish sovereignty claim . How the money was spent remains uncertain . Spanish restrictions ( edit ) The closed Spanish gate at the border between Gibraltar and Spain , 1977 After the Spanish constitution , Spain was still reluctant to re-open the border because of the consequences it might have . However the border was re-opened in 1984 , allowing free access between both sides , although Spain did not open ferry services until later . Further problems have been encountered regarding the airport , as it is placed on disputed neutral land . Under the Lisbon Agreement of 1980 : Both Governments have reached agreement on the re-establishment of direct communications in the region . The Spanish Government has decided to suspend the application of the measures at present in force . This was to include reinstatement of a ferry service between Gibraltar and Algeciras . This was finally reinstated after 40 years , on 16 December 2009 , operated by the Spanish company Transcoma . At the end of 2006 , the restrictions on the airport were removed as a result of the Córdoba Agreement ( 2006 ) and direct flights from Madrid by Iberia started operation . However , On 22 September 2008 , Iberia announced that it would cease its flights to Madrid by 28 September due to `` economic reasons '' , namely , lack of demand . This left Gibraltar without any air links with Spain , until May 2009 when Air Andalus opened a service . Air communications with Spain ceased again in August 2010 , when Air Andalus lost its licence . Spain demonstrated opposition to Gibraltar 's membership of Union of European Football Associations . Disputes prior to Brexit ( edit ) 2000 -- An issue of contention was the repair of the nuclear powered submarine , HMS Tireless . The Government of Spain expressed its concern about the effective safety for the inhabitants of Gibraltar and those living in the Campo de Gibraltar the adjacent area in Spain , some 250,000 people . The inhabitants of the area saw this repair as a precedent of future repair operations in Gibraltar rather than the one - off emergency the British Government has claimed ( no other nuclear submarine has been repaired in Gibraltar since ) . On the other hand , the Government of Gibraltar accused Spain of using this incident as an excuse to justify its 300 - year - old sovereignty claim to Gibraltar . Despite many protests , the Government of Gibraltar allowed the work to be done after employing its own experts to confirm it could be undertaken safely . The submarine was in Gibraltar for a year before leaving , during which the repair was completed without incident . Subsequently , Spanish politicians have complained about every nuclear submarine visit to Gibraltar , and have tried unsuccessfully to get a reassurance that this would totally stop . There have been no further protests against nuclear submarines in Gibraltar . Commenting , the Government of Gibraltar said : `` Nuclear submarine visits to Gibraltar are a matter for UK and Gibraltar . Visits for operational or recreational purposes are welcome by the Gibraltar Government ... To our knowledge , it is not the position of the present Spanish Government or any previous Spanish Government , that it is opposed to visits by nuclear submarines . '' 2002 -- In the months that predated the referendum called by the Gibraltar government on the joint sovereignty agreement disagreements could be categorised as : Control of the military installations . Spain wished to control the military installations of the territory , even in the event of joint sovereignty . This pretension was considered unacceptable by the British Ministry of Defence . The referendum itself . Both the Spanish and British governments stated that the referendum had no legal effect , but it clearly indicated the democratically expressed will of the people of Gibraltar to `` not be Spanish '' . As the British Government is committed to respect those wishes , the idea of a joint sovereignty deal has been abandoned . 2004 -- A visit by The Princess Royal in June 2004 , the brief return of HMS Tireless in July 2004 , together with the Tercentenary Celebrations of the capture of The Rock were subjects of complaint by the Spanish Government . A new round of talks on a tri-lateral basis were proposed in October 2004 to discuss regional co-operation . In February 2005 the first talks took place at a meeting held in Málaga and subsequently in Portugal and London . This is the first sign of formal recognition of the Government of Gibraltar , and has been generally welcomed . The main issues of the talks have been a new agreement on the airport , the pensions of the Spanish workers that worked in Gibraltar during the sixties , and the removal of Spanish restrictions on telecommunications . 2006 -- Those issues were successfully resolved in September 2006 in the Córdoba Agreement . The process continues . 2007 -- A bulk carrier , the MV New Flame , ran aground south of Europa Point in Gibraltar and broke up on the reef in August 2007 , generating accusations of pollution in Spain and claims not only against the Government of Gibraltar but also against that of Spain . Its cargo was scrap metal and the vessel 's fuel was promptly drained . The Government of Gibraltar claimed in December 2007 that the operation did not represent a material risk to the environment since the vessel had been defuelled and only small , remnant amounts of fuel remained in the engines themselves . The Spanish branch of Greenpeace claimed that , as late as February 2008 , fuel spills from the New Flame had polluted Spanish beaches around the Bay of Gibraltar . Official Spanish sources played this down stating that the fuel reaching the beaches of Algeciras was in `` insignificant amounts '' . 2009 -- The dispute over British - claimed territorial waters gained prominence with deliberate incursions by Spain , triggering angry headlines in the UK tabloid press . In December 2009 , four armed Civil Guard officers were detained after three landed in Gibraltar in pursuit of two suspected smugglers , who were themselves arrested . The Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba personally telephoned Chief Minister Peter Caruana to apologise , stating that there were `` no political intentions '' behind the incident . The Chief Minister was prepared to accept it had not been a political act . The Spanish officers were released by the police the following day , who said that `` Enquiries established that the Guardia Civil mistakenly entered Gibraltar Territorial Waters in hot pursuit and have since apologised for their actions . '' 2012 -- Queen Sofía of Spain cancelled plans to travel to the United Kingdom to participate in the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II . The cancellation was a protest in response to a planned visit to Gibraltar by Prince Edward . The Spanish government also lodged a protest to the planned visit by Prince Edward , Earl of Wessex . Relations between Britain and Spain reportedly `` returned to a state of growing confrontation '' following the election of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the Spanish People 's Party in December 2011 . Plans for a 100 - boat flotilla to sail around the peninsula to mark the Queen 's Diamond Jubilee were adopted in Gibraltar as `` a show of defiance against Spain . '' Additional protests followed in August 2012 after Gibraltar abrogated an accord that allowed Spanish fishing boats to operate in its waters . 2013 -- Disagreements between Spain and the United Kingdom Government re-surfaced in July 2013 , initially after the Gibraltar Government placed a number of concrete blocks in the sea off the coast of Gibraltar , intending to form an artificial reef . The Spanish Government protested however stating that it had a negative impact on fishing in the area , restricting access for Spanish fishing vessels . At the end of July the Spanish Government introduced extra border checks for people going in and out of the territory into Spain . The British Government protested as the checks were causing major delays of up to seven hours while people waited to cross the border , and on 2 August the Spanish Ambassador was summoned to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to discuss these developments . On 2 August 2013 , Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Garcia - Margallo gave an interview to ABC newspaper in Spain . He announced possible plans to introduce a 50 euro border crossing fee for people going to and from Gibraltar , in response to the creation of the artificial Reef . Plans to close Spanish airspace to Gibraltar bound flights were also reported , as were plans for an investigation by Spanish tax authorities into property owned by around 6,000 Gibraltarians in neighbouring parts of Spain . The Spanish Foreign Minister also mooted plans to changes in the law meaning British online gaming companies based in Gibraltar would have to base servers in Spain , meaning that they would come under Madrid 's tax regime . The British Foreign office responded to these comments : `` The prime minister has made clear that the UK government will meet its constitutional commitments to the people of Gibraltar and will not compromise on sovereignty . '' The effect of Brexit ( edit ) Main article : Gibraltar after Brexit After the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union , despite a strong vote to remain in Gibraltar , on June 23 , Spain reiterated its position that it wanted to jointly govern Gibraltar with the United Kingdom and said it would seek to block Gibraltar from participating in talks over future deals between the UK and EU . The European council released a series of guidelines on negotiations for withdrawal , with core principal number 22 stating that any agreement affecting Gibraltar needed the agreement of Spain suggesting that Spain had been given a veto while the United Kingdom re-iterated its commitment to Gibraltar . See also ( edit ) Disputed status of Olivença between Portugal and Spain . Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta , Melilla , Islas Chafarinas , Peñón de Alhucemas and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera disputed by Morocco . Spanish exclave of Llívia in France . History of Gibraltar References ( edit ) Notes ( edit ) Jump up ^ `` Regions and territories : Gibraltar '' . British Broadcasting Corporation . 18 July 2007 . Retrieved 20 December 2007 . Jump up ^ Mark Oliver ; Sally Bolton ; Jon Dennis ; Matthew Tempest ( 4 August 2004 ) . `` Gibraltar '' . London : Guardian Unlimited . Retrieved 20 December 2007 . Jump up ^ `` Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Minutes of Evidence : Examination of Witnesses ; Jim Murphy replying to question 257 from Mr. Hamilton '' . 28 March 2008 . Retrieved 24 January 2012 . The UK Government will never -- `` never '' is a seldom - used word in politics -- enter into an agreement on sovereignty without the agreement of the Government of Gibraltar and their people . In fact , we will never even enter into a process without that agreement . ^ Jump up to : The Committee Office , House of Commons . `` Answer to Q257 at the FAC hearing '' . Publications.parliament.uk . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . ^ Jump up to : `` Political Development '' . Government of Gibraltar Information Services . 2006 . ^ Jump up to : `` A / AC. 109 / 2016 / 8 '' . United Nations . 29 February 2016 . Jump up ^ Maurice Harvey ( 1996 ) . Gibraltar . A History . Spellmount Limited . p. 68 . ISBN 1 - 86227 - 103 - 8 . Jump up ^ `` Treaty of Utrecht ( Article X ) '' . Gibraltar Action Group . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ Simon J. Lincoln ( 1994 ) . `` The Legal Status of Gibraltar : Whose Rock is it Anyway ? '' . Fordham International Law Journal , Volume 18 , Issue 1 page 308 . Retrieved 26 September 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Gibraltar profile '' ( PDF ) . United Nations . Jump up ^ `` Informe sobre la cuestión cisi Gibraltar '' . Spanish Foreign Ministry ( in Spanish ) . 25 March 2010 . Archived from the original on November 3 , 2009 . Jump up ^ `` Address to UN '' . Archived from the original on 24 November 2007 . Retrieved 18 October 2008 . Jump up ^ `` Chief Minister 's Speech to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation '' . Government of Gibraltar. 8 October 2009 . Archived from the original on 13 November 2009 . Mr Chairman , nobody who visits Gibraltar and observes its society and self government can objectively think that Gibraltar , in reality , remains a colony . Jump up ^ `` First Spanish minister to visit Gibraltar for 300 years '' . London Evening Standard . 20 July 2009 . Jump up ^ `` Special Committee on Decolonisation hears petitioner from Gibraltar as Spain opposes its removal from list of Non-Self - Governing Territories '' . UN. 9 June 2009 . Jump up ^ UN General Assembly ( 1966 ) . `` Resolution 2231 ( XXI ) . Question of Gibraltar '' ( PDF ) . Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly during its Twenty - First Session . United Nations . Retrieved 16 December 2005 . Jump up ^ UN General Assembly ( 1967 ) . `` Resolution 2353 ( XXII ) . Question of Gibraltar '' ( PDF ) . Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly during its Twenty - Second Session . United Nations . Retrieved 16 December 2005 . Jump up ^ Sayer , Frederick ( 1865 ) p. 116 Jump up ^ George Hills ( 1974 ) . Rock of Contention . A History of Gibraltar . London : Robert Hale . p. 456 . ISBN 0 - 7091 - 4352 - 4 . Jump up ^ United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ( 1966 ) . Gibraltar talks with Spain ( May -- October 1966 ) . Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by Command of Her Majesty . London : Her Majesty 's Stationery Office . p. 36 . Jump up ^ `` Resolution 2429 ( XXIII ) : Question of Gibraltar '' . UN General Assembly . 18 December 1968 . Jump up ^ Gold , Peter ( 2005 ) . Gibraltar : British or Spanish ? . Routledge . p. 66 . ISBN 0 - 415 - 34795 - 5 . Jump up ^ Gold , Peter ( 2005 ) . Gibraltar : British or Spanish ? . Routledge . p. 180 . ISBN 0 - 415 - 34795 - 5 . Jump up ^ Statement in the House of Commons by The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs , Mr. Jack Straw , 27 March 2006 Jump up ^ Written answer of Mr. Hattersley to Mrs. Hart , HC Deb 3 August 1976 vol 916 cc726 - 7W . Jump up ^ `` Following intense debate , Fourth Committee approves amended omnibus text on Non-Self - Governing Territories '' . United Nations General Assembly . Department of Public Information . 20 October 2008 . The Fourth Committee ( Special Political and Decolonization ) would have the General Assembly reaffirm the inalienable right of the peoples of 11 of the 16 remaining Non-Self - Governing Territories to self - determination by an `` omnibus '' draft resolution it approved today . Jump up ^ `` Q&A : Gibraltar 's referendum '' . BBC News . BBC . 8 November 2002 . Retrieved 19 February 2010 . Jump up ^ The Committee Office , House of Commons . `` Answer to Q215 at the FAC hearing '' . Publications.parliament.uk . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ Simmonds , Charlotte ( 23 May 2014 ) . `` Football is the most political of all sports '' . New Statesman . Jump up ^ Kirsten Sparre ( 13 October 2006 ) . `` UEFA makes Gibraltar wait for membership after Spanish intervention '' . PlaytheGame . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Caruana repeats the same promises almost every New Year message '' . Panorama.gi . Jump up ^ Caruana , Peter ( 5 October 2006 ) . `` Press Release : Chief Minister 's address at the United Nations Fourth Committee on 4 October 2006 '' ( PDF ) . Government of Gibraltar . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 24 November 2007 . Retrieved 17 October 2008 . Jump up ^ Spain in rare talks on Gibraltar at BBC News , 21 July 2009 Jump up ^ `` Gib Day Celebrates 300 Years of ' Gibraltar and Britain ' '' . The Gibraltar Chronicle. 27 Oct 2004 . Archived from the original on 7 February 2006 . Jump up ^ `` New Constitution recognises right to self - determination , Britain tells UN '' . Panorama.gi. 2007 . Retrieved 1 March 2009 . Jump up ^ UN General Assembly ( 2008 ) . `` As Special Committee on Decolonization considers question of Gibraltar , territory 's chief minister says its decolonization ' no longer pending . ' '' . Special Committee on Decolonization Ninth Meeting . United Nations . Retrieved 1 March 2009 . Jump up ^ Gibraltar is frequently known as The Rock Jump up ^ Durán - Loriga , Juan ( 9 February 2002 ) . `` Gibraltar en el Tratado de Utrecht '' . ABC.es ( in Spanish ) . Jump up ^ `` Tratado de Utrecht . Cesión de Gibraltar a Inglaterra '' ( in Spanish ) . mgar.net . Jump up ^ `` United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea : Declarations made upon signature , ratification , accession or succession or anytime thereafter ( Spain ) '' . UN . Jump up ^ `` United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea : Declarations made upon signature , ratification , accession or succession or anytime thereafter ( United Kingdom ) '' . UN . Jump up ^ `` United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea : Part XVII , Final Provisions '' . UN.org . United Nations . 10 December 1982 . Retrieved 4 April 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Spain threatens Court of Justice suit over Gibraltar fishing dispute '' . UPI News . 16 September 2013 . Jump up ^ `` EU Court dismisses Gibraltar waters case '' . El País. 2 June 2011 . Jump up ^ `` EU Court of Justice confirms Spain has a listed nature site in Gibraltar waters '' . MercoPress. 30 November 2012 . Jump up ^ `` Angry UK reaction to Spanish navy incident in Gibraltar waters '' . MercoPress. 23 May 2009 . Jump up ^ Milland , Gabriel ( 23 May 2009 ) . `` Return of the Armada as Spain ' invades ' Gibraltar '' . ^ Jump up to : Duva , Jesús ; Gómez , Luis ( 16 March 2008 ) . `` España Pedirá que Gibraltar Vuelva a la Lista Negra de Paraísos Fiscales '' . El País ( in Spanish ) . Jump up ^ `` State aid : Commission welcomes phasing out of tax benefits for Offshore Exempt Companies in Gibraltar '' . European Commission . 18 February 2005 . Jump up ^ `` Gibraltar , el agujero negro de la Hacienda espańola '' ( in Spanish ) . Apreblanc.com. 22 July 2009 . Jump up ^ The Committee Office , House of Commons ( 22 June 1999 ) . `` House of Commons -- Foreign Affairs -- Fourth Report '' . Publications.parliament.uk . Jump up ^ `` Building a Rock solid reputation '' . Gibraltar Financial Services Commission . 20 November 2004 . ^ Jump up to : `` Gibraltar Commits to Co-operate with OECD to Address Harmful Tax Practices '' ( PDF ) . Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . 14 March 2002 . Jump up ^ `` A progress report on the jurisdictions surveyed by the OECD global forum in implementing the internationally agreed tax standard -- Progress made as at 2 April 2009 '' ( PDF ) . Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . 2 April 2009 . Jump up ^ `` Gibraltar ' white - listed ' by OECD '' . The Gibraltar Chronicle. 22 October 2009 . Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 . Retrieved 22 October 2009 . Jump up ^ `` GF ratings '' ( PDF ) . Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . Jump up ^ `` Yukos Stock '' . Time . 9 November 2003 . Archived from the original on 1 October 2007 . Retrieved 1 May 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Fears grow over Gibraltar 's drug - runners '' . The Independent . 13 December 1994 . Multi-million pound cigarette smuggling , rising drugs traffic using Gibraltar - based boats and growing reports of money - laundering by big - time crooks , including Arabs and Colombians based on Spain 's Costa del Sol , are causing increasing concern in both Whitehall and Madrid . Jump up ^ `` Gibraltar accused of being tobacco smuggling haven as Spanish government says if its imports were legal every citizen would be on 180 a day '' . Daily Mail . 11 August 2014 . Gibraltar , with a population of less than 30,000 , imported 117 million packets of cigarettes in 2013 , reported El Pais . The newspaper quoted a Spanish government official as saying : ' Every Gibraltarian , including unweaned babies , would each have to smoke nine packets a day . ' Cigarettes in Gibraltar cost almost half what they do in Spain . ^ Jump up to : `` Gibraltar cigarette smugglers busted by Spanish authorities '' . Spanish News Today . 23 February 2015 . Jump up ^ James , Lawrence ( 1995 ) . The Rise and Fall of the British Empire ( 1st U.S. ed . ) . New York : St. Martin 's Griffin . p. 251 . ISBN 0 - 312 - 16985 - X . Jump up ^ `` Cumbre de la OTAN en Madrid '' ( in Spanish ) . La Fogata. 25 May 2003 . Jump up ^ Paloma Cervilla . `` España cede el control del Estrecho '' ( in Spanish ) . ABC.es . Jump up ^ `` Files reveal 1953 Gibraltar row '' . BBC News . 2 January 2005 . Jump up ^ `` Gibraltar sovereignty referendum result '' . IFES . Jump up ^ `` Media reaction to the referendum '' . BBC News . 8 November 2002 . Jump up ^ `` Secret funds and Spanish spies in Gibraltar today '' . Panorama.gi . Jump up ^ `` New Year for Gibraltar / Algeciras : ferry route reopened after four decades '' . MercoPress. 18 December 2009 . Jump up ^ `` First Iberia flight '' . Gibnews.net . ( Registration required ( help ) ) . Jump up ^ `` Flights between Madrid and Gibraltar suspended '' . Euroresidentes UK . Jump up ^ `` Air Andalus flys from Gibraltar '' . Gibnews.net . ( Registration required ( help ) ) . Jump up ^ Govan , Fiona ( 27 December 2006 ) . `` Rocky road for Gibraltar 's footballers '' . The Daily Telegraph . Jump up ^ El New Flame ha vertido a la Bahía de Algeciras , 2007 October ( in Spanish ) Jump up ^ `` Report on the investigation of the collision between MV New Flame & MT Torm Gertrud '' ( Press release ) . Gibraltar Maritime Administration . 12 August 2007 . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 12 March 2013 . Jump up ^ `` El buque chatarrero encallado en Algeciras corre el riesgo de partirse en dos a causa del oleaje '' ( in Spanish ) . diariovasco.com. 2007 - 08 - 21 . Jump up ^ `` Ship carrying 27,000 tons of scrap about to split in two off Gibraltar : officials '' . International Herald Tribune . 22 August 2007 . Archived from the original on 5 September 2008 . Jump up ^ `` New Flame collision '' . Fortunes de Mer. 12 August 2007 . Jump up ^ Greenpeace señala la gravedad del último vertido del New Flame , 11 February 2008th ( in Spanish ) . Jump up ^ `` Spanish Environment Minister Cristina Narbona comments '' . Europasur.es . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ Milland , Gabriel . `` Return of the Armada '' . Express.co.uk . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Incident at Harbour Views '' . Gibnews.net. 7 December 2009 . ( Registration required ( help ) ) . Jump up ^ `` Guardia Civil Officers officers detained by Gibralatar Police '' . ThinkSpain. 8 December 2009 . Jump up ^ `` Spanish queen 's jubilee snub over Prince Edward 's Gibraltar visit '' . The Guardian . 16 May 2012 . Jump up ^ Tom Worden ( 31 May 2012 ) . `` Defiant Gibraltar ignores Spanish protests over The Rock and will celebrate Jubilee with 100 boat flotilla '' . The Daily Mail . Jump up ^ `` Spain protests to Britain over Gibraltar fishing ban '' . Fox News Latino . 17 August 2012 . Jump up ^ `` Spain protests about Gibraltar stance on fishing '' . Typically Spanish . 19 August 2012 . Archived from the original on 10 October 2012 . Jump up ^ `` Britain Summons Spanish Ambassador Over Gibraltar Border Checks '' . The Telegraph . 2 August 2013 . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Gibraltar Row Will Be Resolved , Says UK Foreign Office '' . British Broadcasting Corporation . 4 August 2013 . Retrieved 5 August 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Spain seeks to jointly govern Gibraltar after Brexit '' . Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 25 . Jump up ^ `` Draft guidelines following the United Kingdom 's notification under Article 50 TEU '' ( PDF ) . Retrieved 2017 - 04 - 01 . Sources ( edit ) British sources ^ George Hills ( 1974 ) . Rock of Contention . A History of Gibraltar . London : Robert Hale . ISBN 0 - 7091 - 4352 - 4 . George Hills was a BBC World Service broadcaster , Spanish Historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society . Although listed as a ' British ' source , Hills supports the Spanish view of Gibraltar . He died in 2002 . His research documents are now available at King 's College , UCL as a separate collection . ^ Jackson , William ( 1990 ) . The Rock of the Gibraltarians . A History of Gibraltar ( 2nd ed . ) . Grendon , Northamptonshire , UK : Gibraltar Books . General Sir William Jackson was Governor of Gibraltar between 1978 and 1982 , a military Historian and former Chairman of the Friends of Gibraltar Heritage . Spanish sources ^ Sepúlveda , Isidro ( 2004 ) . Gibraltar . La razón y la fuerza ( Gibraltar . The reason and the force ) . in Spanish . Madrid : Alianza Editorial . ISBN 84 - 206 - 4184 - 7 . Chapter 2 , `` La lucha por Gibraltar '' ( The Struggle for Gibraltar ) is available online ( PDF ) . Isidro Sepúlveda Muñoz is a Contemporary History Professor in the UNED ( `` Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia '' ) . ^ Cajal , Máximo ( 2003 ) . Siglo XXI Editores , ed . Ceuta , Melilla , Olivenza y Gibraltar . Donde termina España ( Ceuta , Melilla , Olivenza y Gibraltar . Where Spain ends ) . In Spanish . Madrid : Siglo Veintiuno de España Editores . ISBN 84 - 323 - 1138 - 3 . Máximo Cajal is a Spanish diplomatist , ambassador in different countries and special representant of the former Spanish Prime Minister , José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero , in the Alliance of Civilizations . He was the only survivor of the assault of the Embassy of Spain in Guatemala by the forces of the Guatemalan dictatorship in 1980 . Further reading ( edit ) Fawcett , J.E.S. Gibraltar : The Legal Issues in International Affairs ( Royal Institute of International Affairs ) , Vol. 43 , No. 2 ( Apr. , 1967 ) Gibraltar topics History Neanderthals of Gibraltar Timeline ( sieges ) Pillars of Hercules First Siege of Gibraltar Battle of Gibraltar Capture of Gibraltar George Rooke Treaty of Utrecht Thirteenth Siege of Gibraltar Great Siege George Augustus Eliott Gibraltar real ( currency ) World War II Nationality Genoese in Gibraltar Maltese in Gibraltar Explosion of the RFA Bedenham Operation Flavius ( Death on the Rock ) Aurora incident New Flame incident Fedra incident Geography General Climate Geology Azores -- Gibraltar Transform Fault Gibraltar Arc Environment Birds Mammals Barbary macaques Reptiles and amphibians Candytuft ( Iberis gibraltarica ) Botanic Gardens Ornithological & Natural History Society ( GONHS ) Wildlife Park Places Natural Bay of Gibraltar Catalan Bay Eastern Beach Gorham 's Cave Rock of Gibraltar St. Michael 's Cave Sandy Bay Strait of Gibraltar Vanguard Cave Windmill Hill Built Bristol Hotel City Hall The Convent Garrison Library King George V Hospital Moorish Castle The Rock Hotel St. Bernard 's Hospital Politics General Constitution Order 1969 2006 Law Court system LGBT rights Passport Political development in modern Gibraltar People Chief Minister Governor Mayor Politics Black Swan Project controversy Disputed status isthmus Elections 2007 2011 2015 Parliament Speaker Political parties Sovereignty referendums 1967 2002 EU Referendum European Union ( Referendum ) Act 2016 ( Gibraltar ) Military British Forces Gibraltar Gibraltar Defence Police Gibraltar Squadron Napier of Magdala Battery RAF Gibraltar Royal Gibraltar Police Royal Gibraltar Regiment Economy General Banks Gibraltar pound coins Stock Exchange Taxation Tourism Communications . gi ( Internet domain ) Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation Gibraltar Chronicle Gibtelecom Panorama Regulatory Authority Royal Gibraltar Post Office Postage stamps and history Postal Orders Study Circle Telephone numbers Transport Airport Cable car Gibraltar -- Spain border Shipping in Gibraltar Vehicle registration plates Culture General Cuisine Education Bayside Comprehensive School Westside School University of Gibraltar Miss Gibraltar Music Llévame Donde Nací National Day Public holidays Scouting and Guiding in Gibraltar Demographics Gibraltarians list in the UK Gibraltarian status Languages English Llanito Religion Christianity Anglicanism Diocese in Europe Bishop diocesan Bishop suffragan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity St. Andrew 's Church ( Church of Scotland ) Methodism Roman Catholicism Diocese Bishop Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned Our Lady of Europe Shrine of Our Lady of Europe Trafalgar Cemetery Other faiths Hinduism Islam Ibrahim - al - Ibrahim Mosque Judaism Great Synagogue Sport By sport Basketball Cricket national team Cycling Football Football Association national team Petanque Rugby union national team Campo Gibraltar RUFC Commonwealth Games Island Games Records in athletics Victoria Stadium Symbols Anthem Coat of arms Official flag other flags Commons Portal WikiProject United Kingdom European Union membership referendum , 2016 Renegotiation Results Aftermath Brexit Referendum question `` Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union ? '' Referendum legislation European Union Referendum Act 2015 European Union ( Referendum ) Act 2016 ( Gibraltar ) Background Treaty of Rome UK Accession to the European Communities Treaty of Accession 1972 European Communities Act 1972 1973 EC enlargement 1975 European Communities membership referendum Single European Act European Communities ( Amendment ) Act 1986 UK rebate Black Wednesday Maastricht Treaty Treaty on European Union European Communities ( Amendment ) Act 1993 European Economic Area European Economic Area Act 1993 Treaty of Amsterdam European Communities ( Amendment ) Act 1998 Treaty of Nice European Communities ( Amendment ) Act 2002 Treaty of Accession 2003 European Union ( Accessions ) Act 2003 European Constitution European Union Bill 2005 Treaty of Lisbon Withdrawal from the European Union Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union European Union ( Amendment ) Act 2008 European Union Act 2011 European Union ( Referendum ) Bill 2013 2014 UK European Parliament election 2015 UK general election Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom Campaign 2016 referendum campaign Issues Opinion polling Endorsements Project Fear Campaign organisations Remain Official campaign Britain Stronger in Europe Other campaigns Labour In for Britain Leave Official campaign Vote Leave Other campaigns Leave.EU Grassroots Out Labour Leave Campaign for an Independent Britain The Freedom Association Better Off Out Get Britain Out Bruges Group Televised debates The European Union : In or Out ( 2014 ) Aftermath International reactions Conservative Party leadership election Labour Party leadership election UK Independence Party leadership election ( September ) UK Independence Party leadership election ( November ) 2017 UK general election Brexit R ( Miller ) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union United Kingdom invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union Brexit negotiations Effect of Brexit on Gibraltar Effects of Brexit on science and technology WTO Option Brexit legislation European Union ( Notification of Withdrawal ) Act 2017 European Union ( Withdrawal ) Bill Related Brexit : The Movie ( 2016 documentary ) Change Britain `` Enemies of the People '' London independence More United The New European ( newspaper ) Open Britain Proposed second Scottish independence referendum United Ireland Status of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and Gibraltar Impact of Brexit on the European Union Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disputed_status_of_Gibraltar&oldid=837067776 '' Categories : History of Gibraltar Politics of Gibraltar Spain -- United Kingdom relations Territorial disputes of Spain Territorial disputes of the United Kingdom International disputes Hidden categories : Articles with Spanish - language external links CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) Pages with login required references or sources NPOV disputes from December 2016 All NPOV disputes Wikipedia introduction cleanup from December 2016 All pages needing cleanup Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from December 2016 All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify Use dmy dates from February 2012 Use British English from February 2012 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2016 All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from December 2016 All articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from December 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010 All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from December 2016 Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from January 2010 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages Español Edit links This page was last edited on 18 April 2018 , at 14 : 40 . 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Question: what territory is spain and the united kingdom in a dispute over