Gibraltar risks derailing Brexit deal

Spain threatens to veto a draft Brexit agreement between the UK and EU over concerns about the future status of Gibraltar

Article 184 of draft Brexit deal says EU and UK will seek to “negotiate rapidly the agreements governing their future relationship” between March 29, 2019 and end of transition period in December 2020

Spain wants written guarantees that Gibraltar will not automatically be covered by any future UK-EU free trade agreement, and that its inclusion would depend on bilateral talks between London and Madrid

SPAIN
GIBRALTAR Population: 30,000 
Area: 6.5 sq km
500m 1,640ft


Port of Gibraltar: Home to naval base
SPAIN
Border crossing
International Airport
Rock of Gibraltar (426m)
Governor’s residence
Alboran sea

GIBRALTAR (UK)

FACTFILE
Named in Arabic “Jabal Tariq”, after Muslim commander Tariq Ibn-Ziyad, who turned “the Rock” into fortress in 711

Spain has long claimed sovereignty over territory, which has been ruled by Britain since 1713 under terms of Treaty of Utrecht

Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly against Spanish sovereignty in 1967 referendum, and against joint UK-Spanish control in 2002 vote

Gibraltar is due to leave EU along with UK despite 96% of population voting to remain in 2016 referendum


Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, BBC, FT, AP Picture: Google Earth © GRAPHIC NEWS