London has defended itself against the name of Gibraltar as a British „colony“ in an official EU document. „It is totally unacceptable to describe Gibraltar in this way,“ said a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday. „Gibraltar is a full member of the British family, and that will not change with the fact that we are leaving the EU.“
The European Council briefly described the British enclave on the Spanish peninsula as a „colony of the British crown“ and referred to the „controversy“ over the sovereignty of Gibraltar between London and Madrid. The document was about a possible visa-free regime for British citizens after Brexit. The visa-free regime could apply to short-term visits of up to 90 days in the Schengen area.
The British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula was a controversial issue in the Brexit negotiations between Brussels and London. Numerous inhabitants of the area cross the border every day, for example on their way to work. Gibraltar has been part of Britain since 1713, but is regularly reclaimed by Spain.
