The United Kingdom has objected to the European Union's use the word "colony" to describe the island Gibraltar. The European Council (a body that defines the EU's political direction) produced a document regarding UK nationals travelling to the EU after Brexit. It says a footnote: "Gibraltar is a colony the British Crown. There is a controversy Spain and the UK concerning the sovereignty Gibraltar, a territory which a solution has to be reached." A UK government spokesperson said: "Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe it this way. She added: "Gibraltar is a full part the UK family....This will not change due to our exit the EU."
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located the Mediterranean Sea Spain and Morocco. It is home to 30,000 people. In 1704, Anglo-Dutch forces captured it Spain during a war. Spain handed Gibraltar to Great Britain a 1713 treaty. However, Spain still asserts a claim to the territory. It wants Gibraltar excluded all post-Brexit agreements the UK and the EU. Gibraltar rejected proposals shared UK-Spanish sovereignty by 99% to 1% a 2002 referendum. Gibraltar's Chief Minister has accused Spain of bullying. He said: "No one will be surprised to hear the Spanish government making provocative statements in respect Gibraltar."
