Gibraltar | British overseas territory, Europe | Britannica.com British overseas territory, Europe Sir James Craig Gibraltar, British overseas territory occupying a narrow peninsula of Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast, just northeast of the Strait of Gibraltar , on the east side of the Bay of Gibraltar (Bay of Algeciras ), and directly south of the Spanish city of La Línea . It is 3 miles (5 km) long and 0.75 mile (1.2 km) wide and is connected to Spain by a low, sandy isthmus that is 1 mile (1.6 km) long. Its name is derived from Arabic: Jabal Ṭāriq (Mount Tarik), honouring Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād , who captured the peninsula in 711. Gibraltar is a heavily fortified British air and naval base that guards the Strait of Gibraltar, which is the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean . Since the 18th century, Gibraltar has been a symbol of British naval strength, and it is commonly known in that context as “the Rock.” The Rock of Gibraltar. Gibraltar. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Gibraltar increased in strategic importance, and its position as a provisioning port was greatly enhanced . Since World War II the British military garrison and naval dockyard have continued to be an important part of Gibraltar’s economy, and naval operations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) often use the port facilities. The Rock of Gibraltar is considered one of the two Pillars of Heracles (Hercules); the other has been identified as one of two peaks in northern Africa: Mount Hacho , near the city of Ceuta (the Spanish exclave on the Moroccan coast), or Jebel Moussa (Musa), in Morocco . The Pillars—which, according to Homer, were created when Heracles broke the mountain that had connected Africa and Europe—defined the western limits of navigation for the ancient Mediterranean world. Area 2.25 square miles (5.8 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 29,257.

Land Isle of Man The peninsula consists of a limestone and shale ridge (the Rock), which rises abruptly from the isthmus to 1,380 feet (421 metres) at Rock Gun, its northernmost summit. Its highest point, 1,396 feet (426 metres), is attained near its southern end. The Rock shelves down to the sea at Great Europa Point, which faces Ceuta. From the Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar appears as a series of sheer, inaccessible cliffs, fronting the sea on the peninsula’s east coast. The Rock’s slope is more gradual on its western side and is occupied by tier upon tier of houses that stretch for some 300 feet (90 metres) above the old defensive walls. Higher up, limestone cliffs almost isolate the Upper Rock, which is covered with a tangle of wild trees. Gibraltar has no springs or rivers. An area of sand slopes above Catalan and Sandy bays has been sheeted over to provide a rain-catchment area, which was once the sole source of potable water for Gibraltar. The water was stored in a number of tanks blasted into the Rock.

The rainwater was then blended with water pumped from wells on the isthmus or distilled from the sea. The catchment ceased to be used as a source of potable water in the 1990s, when a desalinization plant built in the 1980s was expanded, but it still is used as a service reservoir. Gibraltar has hot, humid, and almost rainless summers; mild winters during which there is usually adequate rain; and warm, moderately rainy, transitional seasons. The territory is subject to strong easterly winds. There are more than 500 species of small flowering plants on Gibraltar. The Gibraltar candytuft is a flower native only to the Rock. Wild olive and pine trees grow on the Upper Rock. Mammals include rabbits, foxes, and Barbary macaques (often erroneously identified as apes). Barbary macaques have roamed the Rock for hundreds of years and are Europe’s only wild monkeys. Although free to wander, they are generally seen on the Upper Rock.

The macaques were once protected by the British army in Gibraltar, and, according to legend , British dominion over the Rock will cease when these animals are no longer present; their protection is now the responsibility of the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society. Migratory birds are common, and Gibraltar is the home of the only specimens of Barbary partridge in Europe. People EU Considers Rules For Robots About four-fifths of the population are Gibraltarians, which includes those born in Gibraltar before 1925 and their descendants, as well as the spouses of Gibraltarians. The remainder are resident aliens and the families of British military personnel. Most Gibraltarians are of mixed Genoese, British, Spanish, Maltese, and Portuguese descent. Moroccans and Indians predominate among the resident aliens. British Culture and Politics About four-fifths of Gibraltarians are Roman Catholic. The Anglican bishopric also covers communities in southern Europe, mainly in Spain’s Costa del Sol. The small Jewish community is of Sephardic descent.

English is the official language of government and education, though most Gibraltarians are bilingual in English and Spanish, and many speak an English dialect known as Yanito (Llanito), which is influenced by Spanish, Genoese, and Hebrew. Economy Because of lack of space on the peninsula, there is no agriculture. There is a small amount of light industry—tobacco, beverages, canning—but the main sources of income are the provisioning of ships and military personnel, tourism, and the re-export trade. Tourism was stimulated through the large-scale expansion of hotel and beach facilities and gambling casinos. The port facilities occupy most of the western shore and a portion of land reclaimed from the sea. Income taxes and customs duties produce most of Gibraltar’s revenue. The United Kingdom supplies a significant amount of development aid. Principal expenditures include social services, public works, and municipal services. Gibraltar joined the European Economic Community (later succeeded by the European Union [EU]) with the United Kingdom in 1973. The monetary unit is the Gibraltar pound . Passenger and cargo vessels stop at Gibraltar’s port, and ferries cross daily to Tangier , Morocco.

Gibraltar has an international airport, and regular flights link the territory to London , Tangier, and many other destinations. The peninsula has a road system and a system of tunnels within the Rock for vehicular traffic. A cable car ascends to the central summit of the ridge. As the United Kingdom is not party to the Schengen Agreement , the crossing between La Linea and Gibraltar is one of the few remaining controlled internal borders in western Europe. Government Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and is self-governing in all matters but defense. Its constitution was established by the Gibraltar Constitution Order in 1969, which provided for a House of Assembly consisting of the speaker (appointed by the governor), 15 members elected to four-year terms, and 2 ex-officio members. (A new Constitution Order was approved by referendum in November 2006 and was implemented in January 2007; it renamed the House of Assembly as the Gibraltar Parliament and increased its number of members to 17.) In 1981 Gibraltarians were granted full British citizenship. Gibraltarians age 18 or older and British civilians resident for more than six months are entitled to vote.

The governor, appointed by the British sovereign , is the head of the executive Gibraltar Council and appoints the Council of Ministers, composed of the chief minister and other ministers, from the party or coalition of parties that gains a majority of seats in the Gibraltar Parliament. Instead of a city council, one minister is responsible for municipal affairs. Education is free and compulsory between ages 5 and 15. Educational facilities include several government primary schools and two comprehensive secondary schools. There are also private and military institutions, a school for children with disabilities, and a technical college. History Excavations of limestone caves in the Rock have revealed that Gibraltar was sporadically inhabited from prehistoric times. The Muslim commander Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād captured Gibraltar in 711, and the site was thereafter held as a fortress by all its successive occupiers. The Muslim occupation was permanently ended by the Spanish in 1462, and Isabella I annexed Gibraltar to Spain in 1501.

But in 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession , Sir George Rooke captured Gibraltar for the British, and Spain formally ceded it to Britain under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The Spanish nevertheless made several attempts to retake Gibraltar from Britain, most notably in a protracted but unsuccessful military siege that lasted from 1779 to 1783. In 1830 Gibraltar became a British crown colony. The opening of the Suez Canal (1869) heightened British determination to keep possession of Gibraltar, since the Mediterranean was the main route to Britain’s colonies in East Africa and southern Asia. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Early in the 20th century the Rock was tunneled to facilitate communication between the peninsula’s east and west sides, and the excavated material was used to reclaim 64 acres (26 hectares) from the sea and thus expand the area of the cramped settlement. Gibraltar was a vital repair and assembly point for Allied convoys during the World Wars. Map of Gibraltar (c.

1900), from the 10th edition of Encyclopædia … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. In the 1960s the Spanish government stepped up its demands for the “decolonization” of Gibraltar. A referendum in Gibraltar in 1967 gave residents a choice of opting either for Spanish sovereignty or for continued close association with Britain; the result was an overwhelmingly pro-British vote (12,138 votes to 44). The new constitution that Britain introduced for Gibraltar in 1969 explicitly reaffirmed Gibraltar’s link with Britain while also granting it full internal self-government. Spain responded by closing its border with Gibraltar, thus depriving the territory of its Spanish trade and a labour force of Spanish commuters. Spain lifted its border blockade in 1985. The status of Gibraltar has remained a source of friction between the Spanish and British governments. In a nonbinding referendum in 2002 recognized by neither government, 99 percent of Gibraltar’s voters rejected joint British-Spanish sovereignty . Gibraltar subsequently was allowed by both governments to represent itself in negotiations on its future.

Vicente Rodriguez In 2004 the creation of the Trilateral Forum of Dialogue , bringing together representatives of the governments of Britain, Spain, and Gibraltar, helped to ease tensions. On July 21, 2009, a trilateral meeting in Gibraltar marked the first time since 1704 that a Spanish minister visited the territory. In August 2013 a dispute over fishing rights led the Spanish government to increase border controls on Gibraltar; the United Kingdom criticized the move as a violation of EU laws governing freedom of movement. Gibraltar Territory History and Facts Updated February 23, 2016. Geography of Gibraltar Gibraltar is a British overseas territory that is located to the south of Spain on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Gibraltar is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea with an area of just 2.6 square miles (6.8 sq km) and throughout its history the Strait of Gibraltar (the narrow strip of water between it and Morocco ) has been an important " chokepoint ." This is because the narrow channel is easy to cut off from other areas thereby having the ability to "choke" off transit in times of conflict.

Because of this, there have often been disagreements about who controls Gibraltar. The United Kingdom has controlled the area since 1713 but Spain also claims sovereignty over the area. 10 Geographic Facts You Should Know About Gibraltar 1) Archaeological evidence shows that Neanderthal humans may have inhabited Gibraltar as early as 128,000 and 24,000 B.C.E. In terms of its modern recorded history, Gibraltar was first in habited by the Phoenicians around 950 B.C.E. continue reading below our video 10 Facts About the Titanic That You Don't Know The Carthaginians and Romans also established settlements in the area and after the fall of the Roman Empire it was controlled by the Vandals. In 711 C.E. the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula began and Gibraltar became controlled by the Moors. 2) Gibraltar was then controlled by the Moors until 1462 when the Duke of Medina Sidonia took over the region during the Spanish "Reconquista." Shortly after this time, King Henry IV became King of Gibraltar and made it a city within the Campo Llano de Gibraltar.

In 1474 it was sold to a Jewish group that built a fort in the town and stayed until 1476. At that time they were forced out of the region during the Spanish Inquisition and in 1501 it fell under Spain's control. 3) In 1704, Gibraltar was taken over by a British-Dutch force during the War of Spanish Succession and in 1713 it was ceded to Great Britain with the Treaty of Utrecht. From 1779 to 1783 attempted to take Gibraltar back during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. It failed and Gibraltar eventually became an important base for the British Royal Navy in conflicts like the Battle of Trafalgar , the Crimean War and World War II . 4) In the 1950s Spain again began trying to claim Gibraltar and movement between that region and Spain was restricted. In 1967 the citizens of Gibraltar passed a referendum to remain a part of the United Kingdom and as a result, Spain closed off its border with the region and ended all foreign relationships with Gibraltar. In 1985 however Spain reopened its borders to Gibraltar.

In 2002 a referendum was held to establish shared control of Gibraltar between Spain and the UK but Gibraltar's citizens rejected it and the area remains a British overseas territory to this day. 5) Today Gibraltar is a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom and as such its citizens are considered British citizens. Gibraltar's government however is democratic and separate from that of the UK. Queen Elizabeth II is the chief of state of Gibraltar, but it has its own chief minister as head of government, as well as its own unicameral Parliament and Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. 6) Gibraltar has a total population of 28,750 people and with an area of 2.25 square miles (5.8 sq km) it is one of the most densely populated territories in the world. The population density of Gibraltar is 12,777 people per square mile or 4,957 people per square kilometer. 7) Despite its small size, Gibraltar has a strong, independent economy that is based mainly on finance, shipping and trading, offshore banking and tourism. Ship repair and tobacco are also major industries in Gibraltar but there is no agriculture.

8) Gibraltar is located in southwestern Europe along the Strait of Gibraltar (a narrow strip of water connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea), the Bay of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. It is made up of a limestone out cropping on the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock of Gibraltar takes up the majority of the area's land and Gibraltar's settlements are built along the narrow coastal lowland bordering it. 9) Gibraltar's main settlements are on either the east or west side of the Rock of Gibraltar . The East Side is home to Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, while the western area is home to Westside, where most of the population lives. In addition, Gibraltar has many military areas and tunneled roads to make getting around the Rock of Gibraltar easier. Gibraltar has very few natural resources and little freshwater. As such, seawater desalination is one way its citizens get their water. 10) Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. The average July high temperature for the area is 81˚F (27˚C) and the average January low temperature is 50˚F (10˚C).

Most of Gibraltar's precipitation falls during its winter months and the average yearly precipitation is 30.2 inches (767 mm). To learn more about Gibraltar, visit the official website of the Government of Gibraltar. References British Broadcasting Company. (17 June 2011). BBC News - Gibraltar Profile. Retrieved from: Central Intelligence Agency. (25 May 2011). CIA - The World Factbook - Gibraltar. Retrieved from: Wikipedia.org. (21 June 2011). Gibraltar - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: Britain's rock of Gibraltar | Reuters.com Britain's rock of Gibraltar 1 / 22 People enter the British territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, at its border with Spain, in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain June 24, 2016. Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly in favor of Britain remaining in the European Union but were outnumbered in the referendum and now face the consequences. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 2 / 22 A worker places the Union Jack flag on the facade of a shop at Casesmates square in Gibraltar, June 16, 2016.

The peninsula on Spain's south coast, a British territory since 1713 known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty over the enclave. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 3 / 22 A cloud partially covers the tip of the Rock of Gibraltar at sunrise as seen from La Atunara port, southern Spain August 18, 2013. Spain will seek to jointly govern Gibraltar with Britain following the British vote to leave the European Union, Spain's acting foreign minister said on Friday. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 4 / 22 Pedestrians and drivers wait to cross the road of the Gibraltar International Airport as a British Royal Air Force plane taxis on the tarmac after landing in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 27, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 5 / 22 Pedestrians cross the tarmac at Gibraltar International Airport in front of the Rock near the border with Spain in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 24, 2016.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 6 / 22 A man from Gibraltar looks on after the end of a "Gibraltar stronger in Europe" campaign event, June 16, 2016. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo told the territory's parliament there would be no talks on such a deal. Co-sovereignty with Spain was rejected by around 99 percent of Gibraltarians in a referendum in 2002. "Let others make irrelevant noises about flying flags over our Rock if they want to waste their breath. Such ideas will never prosper," he said. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo 7 / 22 An elderly woman hides as she cleans the door of a house in Gibraltar, April 21, 2016. The majority of people living in Gibraltar - designated as a British Overseas Territory - are British citizens with British passports, although thousands of Spaniards cross from mainland Spain every day for work. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 8 / 22 Fishermen clean their fishes at La Atunara port, southern Spain, August 16, 2013.

Spain's acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said Spain would push to keep Gibraltar out of any general Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union and will aim for bilateral talks to seek co-sovereignty and eventually Spanish control of the peninsula. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 9 / 22 A woman plays a guitar at a port in Gibraltar, August 14, 2013. Britain rejects any notion of Spanish sovereignty against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe with a thriving economy based on financial services, tourism and Internet gambling. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 10 / 22 Gibraltarian women stand next to the closed "Gibraltar stronger in Europe" campaign office as they wait for the start of a wedding outside a church, June 24, 2016. The mood was subdued in Gibraltar on Friday, with people apprehensive and confused about what the result may mean for the movement of labor and capital over the border with Spain.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 11 / 22 Vehicles wait in line to enter Gibraltar at its border with Spain, in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain, August 10, 2015. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 12 / 22 A woman shows passports to a Gibraltarian police officer as she and a man cross the border with Spain, in a car, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 13 / 22 Members of the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster throw a sacks of potatoes after arriving at Gibraltar bay August 19, 2013. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 14 / 22 British Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster (bottom L) and the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Lyme Bay (top L) are seen docked as British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay (R) is towed towards the port after arriving at Gibraltar bay, August 19, 2013.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 15 / 22 A woman exchanges English Pound notes for Euros notes at a money exchange office in Gibraltar, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 16 / 22 Clive (2nd L), a Gibraltarian citizen, drinks wine with his friends, Mary (L) from Scotland, Roger (R) from Britain and Michelle from Ireland at a the terrace of a bar at Casemates Square in Gibraltar, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 17 / 22 Justo Marquez, 50, carries a cross during peace march as he walks along the road of the Gibraltar International airport, after entering the British territory, at its border with Spain, September 1, 2013. Marquez marched from Malaga to resolve Spain's dispute with Gibraltar by carrying a three-meter high cross on an 135km (83 miles) peace march to The Rock. The sign reads, "No more hunger. No more war. Peace in the world".

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 18 / 22 Spanish fishermen with their relatives in a fishing boat take part in a protest at the site where an artificial reef was built by Gibraltar with concrete blocks, in Algeciras bay, La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain August 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 19 / 22 Women sit next to "voladores" or flying fish, hung to dry outside their home, near La Atunara port in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain August 16, 2013. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 20 / 22 Spain seeks to jointly govern Gibraltar after Brexit Spain seeks to jointly govern Gibraltar after Brexit By Jon Nazca Share View photos Workers of a bus for tourists wait for clients at the border of Gibraltar with Spain in front of the rock in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 24, 2016, after Britain voted to leave the European Union in the EU BREXIT referendum.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca More By Jon Nazca GIBRALTAR (Reuters) - Spain will seek to jointly govern Gibraltar with Britain following the British vote to leave the European Union, acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said on Friday. The peninsula on Spain's south coast, a British territory since 1713 known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty over the enclave. "It's a complete change of outlook that opens up new possibilities on Gibraltar not seen for a very long time. I hope the formula of co-sovereignty - to be clear, the Spanish flag on the Rock - is much closer than before," Garcia-Margallo said. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo told the territory's parliament there would be no talks on such a deal. Co-sovereignty with Spain was rejected by around 99 percent of Gibraltarians in a referendum in 2002. "Let others make irrelevant noises about flying flags over our Rock if they want to waste their breath. Such ideas will never prosper," he said.

The majority of people living in Gibraltar - designated as a British Overseas Territory - are British citizens with British passports, although thousands of Spaniards cross from mainland Spain every day for work. Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly in favor of Britain remaining in the European Union but were outnumbered in Thursday's referendum and now face the consequences. Garcia-Margallo said Spain would push to keep Gibraltar out of any general Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union and will aim for bilateral talks to seek co-sovereignty and eventually Spanish control of the peninsula. Britain rejects any notion of Spanish sovereignty against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe with a thriving economy based on financial services, tourism and Internet gambling. The mood was subdued in Gibraltar on Friday, with people apprehensive and confused about what the result may mean for the movement of labor and capital over the border with Spain. "MASSIVE SHOCK" Gibraltar has complained in the past about excessive border controls on the Spanish side. Disputes have also broken out between Spain and Britain over fishing in waters around the Rock.

"We're very worried now about what may happen with the border," said Clive, a 54-year-old tax consultant who declined to give his surname, sitting outside a bar in a central square. "Many companies set up here because it's part of the European Union. We think this result will have a negative effect on the economy." Aaron Payas, a 31-year-old lawyer, said: "There is a lot of concern within the financial services sector given the outcome. The result is a massive shock." Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Britain's vote to leave the EU would not affect the rights of Spanish workers who he said would be able to continue to move freely between the two territories. Spain itself holds an election on Sunday, its second in six months after an inconclusive vote in December. Polls forecast a fragmented result with no clear winner, potentially leading to weeks of negotiations over the formation of a coalition government.

(Additional reporting by Angus Berwick, Writing by Sonya Dowsett, Editing by Julien Toyer and Robin Pomeroy) Reblog Q&A: Gibraltar row - BBC News BBC News Close share panel Image caption Spain disputes UK sovereignty over Gibraltar The UK government says it is considering legal action against Spain over the imposition of additional border checks in Gibraltar. What is the latest dispute about? What and where is Gibraltar? Gibraltar, less than six square kilometres (2.2 sq miles), is a limestone outcrop at the mouth of the Mediterranean. Standing nearly 430m (1,400ft) high at its peak, it is a British Overseas Territory, although Spain, which it borders, also claims sovereignty. The people who live there are British citizens but they run their own affairs under a chief minister. The territory is self-governing in all matters - including taxation - except foreign policy and defence, which are dealt with by the British government. The Rock - as it is known - is also a popular tourist destination, particularly for visitors from Britain. Among its attractions are the local apes that can be seen on the Rock, a community of Barbary macaques.

Although Gibraltar is small, it is strategically important, standing at the mouth of the Mediterranean only 20km (12 miles) from the north coast of Africa. It has a UK military base, including a port and airstrip. Why is Gibraltar back in the news? The underlying dispute over the sovereignty of the territory has continued for centuries, but in the last couple of years it has manifested itself in the form of a clash over fishing rights. Both Spain and Gibraltar have claimed jurisdiction over the waters off the Rock, and both sides have complained about incursions into what they claim are their waters. Both sides have also invoked environmental laws in a bid to reinforce their claims. The most recent spat erupted in July after Gibraltar dropped concrete blocks into the bay to start creating, it said, an artificial reef to encourage sea life to flourish in what it sees as its marine reserve. Spain said the blocks had been laid "without the necessary authorisation" in what it sees as Spanish waters, and both contravened its own environmental laws and damaged its fishing industry, because Spanish fishing nets were in danger of catching on the concrete reef blocks. How did Spain react? Shortly after this, Spain introduced more rigorous border checks at the crossing point between Spain and Gibraltar.

This led to extremely long traffic queues on the weekend of 27-28 July. Some visitors found themselves waiting at the border in six-hour queues in searing summer temperatures. The UK government summoned the Spanish Ambassador in London to complain, while Foreign Secretary William Hague personally called the Spanish foreign minister to ask him to intervene. After this, the logjam at the border eased. But then in an interview given to a Spanish newspaper, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo suggested Spain was considering more formal border restrictions. This reignited the row. What new measures is Spain considering? Mr Garcia-Margallo said Spain was considering introducing a 50 euro (£43) fee to cross the border, which is at Spain's southern tip. He has also suggested Spain could close its airspace to flights heading to Gibraltar. The Spanish tax authorities could launch an investigation into property owned by around 6,000 Gibraltarians in neighbouring parts of Spain, he said, and the law could be changed so that online gambling companies operating from Gibraltar have to use Spanish servers if they want to operate in Spain, thus coming under Madrid's taxation regime. He also said Spain would stop concrete and other materials being brought in through the border for the building of the reef.

Why is the UK threatening legal action? Image copyright Reuters Image caption Visitors to Gibraltar have found themselves in six-hour queues in the sweltering summer heat On 5 August, the European Commission said border checks must "fully respect EU law and remain proportionate", and two days later, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he'd had a "constructive" conversation with his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy about the row. No 10 said Mr Rajoy offered to reduce the checks, but in the Spanish PM's public remarks about the call, no such offer was mentioned. Checks did indeed continue over the weekend of 10-11 August - something Downing Street said had left Mr Cameron "very disappointed". No 10 called Spain's actions "disproportionate and politically motivated", and said that while legal action through the EU would be "unprecedented", it was being considered. The UK statement came as the Spanish government said it was considering taking the dispute to the UN Security Council, where it could seek the support of Argentina. Argentina is also, of course, in dispute with the UK over territory - in its case, the Falkland Islands. Why is Spain doing this?

The Spanish government argues that it is simply observing the law to the letter because it is no longer prepared to turn a blind eye to "irregularities" at a time when it considers Gibraltar is being unreasonable. In Britain, some have suggested that Spain is looking to divert attention from its own economic woes, or to use the possible new restrictions to give itself a bargaining chip. Is fishing the only issue vexing Spain right now? At a glance A British overseas territory, Gibraltar is home to a military garrison and naval base. Spain claims sovereignty over the territory Financial services, tourism, low-tax goods and online gambling are key sectors of the economy No. Mr Garcia-Margallo has said the "party is over" when it comes to his country's policy in general towards Gibraltar. There is considerable traffic between Spain and the Rock, including people who cross the border daily to live and work, but Madrid says the border is being abused. Cigarette smuggling is one bugbear, as is the alleged circumventing of Spanish residency taxes. Spain has also accused Gibraltar of being a corporate tax haven, allowing companies and wealthy individuals to avoid paying millions.

David Cameron has ordered Britain's Crown dependencies and overseas territories to get their "houses in order" over tax, but as recently as June, Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo said multimillionaire hedge fund managers should quit London for Gibraltar because it's "much cheaper", while promotional material promises they are "unlikely to be liable for corporation tax". How long-running is the dispute over Gibraltar? Extremely. The Rock has been fought over for centuries. After an invasion in 711 AD, it remained under Moorish rule for more than 700 years. Spain lost Gibraltar to an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704. The Spanish, despite formally ceding it to London in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, have wanted it back ever since. Under Franco, Spain cut Gibraltar off by sealing its frontier. And more recently? In 1984 the Spanish and UK governments started talks, but the process eventually collapsed over Madrid's demands that the Rock should revert to full Spanish sovereignty after 50 years of shared control. However, the border was reopened in 1985.

In 2006, the governments of Spain, the UK and Gibraltar signed the Cordoba Agreement, which included deals on issues like border crossings and access for flights. It also committed them to a tripartite forum for regular talks, but in 2011, then Spanish foreign minister Trinidad Jimenez said: "On questions of sovereignty, Spain only deals with the UK." And the current Spanish foreign minister in his recent newspaper interview described the tripartite forum as "folly", implying that Madrid is no longer happy to abide by it. How serious is this latest row? Spain and Britain are both part of the European Union and collaborate on a host of other matters. Tensions have flared on a number of other occasions over Gibraltar, and an uneasy calm has always been restored. It is too soon to tell if this time will be any different - although this particular row has already rumbled on for several weeks and shows no sign of abating yet. What do the people of Gibraltar say? They believe they have the right to self-determination and they voted in 2002 by an overwhelming majority against the idea of the UK and Spain sharing sovereignty.

The UK government says it will not enter into negotiations on British sovereignty over Gibraltar without the people's consent. Spain claims UN resolutions on territorial integrity passed in the 1960s override self-determination and say the Treaty of Utrecht, which gives Spain the first option if Britain leaves, rules self-determination out anyway. Gibraltar: David Cameron says UK will not compromise with Spain | World news | The Guardian Gibraltar: David Cameron says UK will not compromise with Spain Downing Street says prime minister is seriously concerned by growing tension over British overseas territory Pedestrians and drivers cross the runway of Gibraltar International airport to enter the British overseas territory from Spain. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters Monday 5 August 2013 09.21 EDT First published on Monday 5 August 2013 09.21 EDT This article is 3 years old David Cameron has said he is "seriously worried" by escalating tensions with Spain over Gibraltar.

The prime minister's concerns arose after Madrid said it was preparing to impose a €50 (£43) fee on the border crossing with the British territory as well as being ready to close airspace to planes using the Gibraltar airport and to investigate alleged smuggling over the border and the tax affairs of Gibraltarians with property in Spain. "Clearly, we remain seriously concerned by the events at the Spain-Gibraltar border," a Downing Street spokesman said. "Specifically on this issue of border fees, the Spanish have not raised the prospect of introducing border fees with us. We are seeking an explanation from them regarding reports that they might target Gibraltar with further measures." The government was in close contact with the Spanish about the issue, but the spokesman refused to give further details. No 10 seems to believe the sabre-rattling over border fees may prove to be theatrical. The EU has been trying to settle a dispute over fishing rights, but is not expecting a breakthrough in the short term and results may ultimately turn on whether the UK is willing to take Spain to court to clarify the legal position on the sovereignty of waters.

Cameron last spoke to his counterpart, Mariano Rajoy, about the issue at a European council meeting in June, before the latest row which has seen long delays at the Spanish border with Gibraltar, which was ceded by treaty to Briton in 1713. Spain has claimed money raised by the border fee could be used to help Spanish fishermen who have lost out because of damage to fishing grounds allegedly caused by Gibraltarian authorities. Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's first minister, has described the measures outlined by the Spanish foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, as reminiscent of the actions of North Korea. He said "hell will freeze over" before the authorities in Gibraltar would remove an artificial reef which Madrid claims is harming the livelihoods of Spanish fishermen. Any border fees would violate European Union rules on freedom of movement rules, he added. "What we have seen this weekend is sabre-rattling of the sort that we haven't seen for some time," Picardo told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "The things that Mr García-Margallo has said are more reminiscent of the type of statement you'd hear from North Korea than from an EU partner.

"We've seen it before during Franco's time during the 1960s but I think all of us hoped that those politics were never going to come back and that the much more enlightened politics of Mr [Miguel Ángel] Moratinos, who was the previous but one foreign minister of Spain, would prevail, which talked about people working together and creating economic benefits for the citizens on both sides of the frontier rather than the belligerence we are seeing now." Dominique Searle, editor of the Gibraltar Chronicle , said: "The fishing issue is the excuse but what Margallo is up to is creating a distraction from the corruption scandals and the state of the economy [in Spain]. Mostly it's just noise. It was inevitable they would make an issue on the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Utrecht. "The fishing issue isn't about fish, it's about sovereignty. It could have been resolved by talking to the fishermen. The reality is that unemployment in La Línea [the Spanish town on the border] is 40%. The smuggling people do there is small scale. These are just working-class people, they don't need this sort of problem.

"As for the claim that 6,000 Gibraltarians own second homes in Soto Grande [in Andalucia], that's just ridiculous. There aren't that many people here with that kind of money." Labour's Foreign Office spokeswoman, Kerry McCarthy, said the prospect of Spain using a "transit fee as a bargaining chip with the UK" was unacceptable. "At this time of year, many of those people trying to cross the border are British holidaymakers and their families. It is wrong for the Spanish government to attempt to use the border crossing to score political points at their expense. "Gibraltar's residents also make heavy use of the border crossing to reach their jobs and relatives in Spain. Any measure designed to penalise the residents of Gibraltar should be strongly rejected by the Foreign Office." Spain's main opposition party, the Spanish Socialist Workers party, criticised what it said was "an escalation of bravado" between the governments of Spain and Gibraltar. Juan Moscoso del Prado, its spokesman for EU affairs, accused García-Margallo of "dynamiting" dialogue on issues which affected workers, fishermen and others.

In an interview with Canal Sur radio station reported by the Europa Press news agency, he said: "You cannot threaten €50 fees when there are more than 10,000 people who go there every day to work.

Workers should not be taken hostage by this conflict." UK sends third warship as Spanish defend checks that keep cars queuing for four hours as 'legal and proportionate' Published: 13 Aug 2013 Royal Navy warships set sail on Monday from Portsmouth for the Mediterranean territory of Gibraltar Published: 12 Aug 2013 • Joint sovereignty among past proposals • Honour principles but be flexible over ancient conquests • Falklands, and enclaves in Morocco, also in the frame Published: 13 Aug 2013 UK may invoke EU laws promoting free movement across EU borders as Madrid reportedly look to take dispute to UN Published: 12 Aug 2013 'Unlawful and dangerous': Spanish ships stray into British-controlled water off Gibraltar - Telegraph Spain 'Unlawful and dangerous': Spanish ships stray into British-controlled water off Gibraltar David Lidington, a Foreign Office minister, says that the activities of two Spanish ships off the coast of the British territory were not only unlawful but also dangerous The British nuclear submarine HMS Tireless approaches the port of Gibraltar on April 2 Photo: EPA By Peter Dominiczak, Assistant Political Editor 3:28PM BST 02 Apr 2014 Spain

's ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office following a "serious incursion" into British-controlled waters off Gibraltar.

David Lidington, a Foreign Office minister, said that the activities of two Spanish ships off the coast of the British territory were not only "unlawful" but also dangerous. "According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the waters around Gibraltar are indisputably British territorial waters, under United Kingdom sovereignty, in which only the United Kingdom has the right to exercise jurisdiction," he said. "Her Majesty's Government takes a grave view of any attempt by Spain to exert authority or control within British Gibraltar territorial waters and considers such incursions as a violation of our sovereignty. "I strongly condemn this provocative incursion and urge the Spanish government to ensure that it is not repeated. Her Majesty's Government will continue to take whatever action we consider necessary to uphold British sovereignty and the interests of Gibraltar, its people, its security and economy." Related Articles Anger mounts at Gibraltar border as Christmas shoppers left queuing for hours to return to Spain 10 Dec 2013 Spain claims sovereignty over the strategic outpost, which stands on the southernmost tip of the Iberian peninsula but has been a British Overseas Territory since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It comes after months of tension over Gibraltar.

There have been a number of incursions by Spanish vessels. In February, Britain said it would make a formal protest to Madrid over an “illegal incursion” by a Spanish naval vessel into Gibraltar’s territorial waters that disrupted a Royal Navy exercise. British Naval chiefs were forced to suspend a parachute training session off the Rock after the exercise was disturbed by a Spanish patrol ship. The Spanish naval boat approached the landing zone where personnel from the Royal Navy’s Submarine Parachute Assistance Group were carrying out practice jumps into the sea. HMS Sabre, a Gibraltar Squadron patrol boat which was acting as the safety vessel during the exercise, was forced to break away to shadow the Spanish naval vessel until it left British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Warnings were issued to the Spanish vessel, which is said to have used a fake name and call sign, but it only left after radioing back that it was in Spanish waters, according to a report in the Gibraltar Chronicle. These incidents are the latest in an ongoing diplomatic spat over the tiny British Overseas Territory between Britain and Spain which has flared up since the election of Mariano Rajoy as Spanish prime minister in 2011.

In November, a research vessel belonging to the Spanish state, the RV Ramon Margalef, undertook significant surveying activity in Gibraltar's territorial waters. The boat withdrew only after Federico Trillo, ther Spanish ambassador, was summoned to the Foreign Office. In the same month, a British diplomatic bag was opened and searched by Spanish Guardia Civil officers on the border with Gibraltar - an incident the Foreign Office described as a "serious infringement" of international diplomatic protocols. Last year saw 446 illegal incursions by Spanish maritime forces into Gibraltarian waters, almost double that of the year before. The summer of 2013 was also marked by mounting tensions at the border as Spanish authorities imposed stringent checks on those crossing to and from Spain. Spanish activity in Gibraltar waters has led to calls by British MPs for the Royal Navy to boost its presence around the Rock.

Spain seeks to jointly govern Gibraltar after Brexit | Reuters Fri Jun 24, 2016 | 11:32 PM BST Spain seeks to jointly govern Gibraltar after Brexit By Jon Nazca | GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR Spain will seek to jointly govern Gibraltar with Britain following the British vote to leave the European Union, acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said on Friday. The peninsula on Spain's south coast, a British territory since 1713 known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty over the enclave. "It's a complete change of outlook that opens up new possibilities on Gibraltar not seen for a very long time. I hope the formula of co-sovereignty - to be clear, the Spanish flag on the Rock - is much closer than before," Garcia-Margallo said. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo told the territory's parliament there would be no talks on such a deal. Co-sovereignty with Spain was rejected by around 99 percent of Gibraltarians in a referendum in 2002.

"Let others make irrelevant noises about flying flags over our Rock if they want to waste their breath. Such ideas will never prosper," he said. The majority of people living in Gibraltar - designated as a British Overseas Territory - are British citizens with British passports, although thousands of Spaniards cross from mainland Spain every day for work. Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union but were outnumbered in Thursday's referendum and now face the consequences. Garcia-Margallo said Spain would push to keep Gibraltar out of any general Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union and will aim for bilateral talks to seek co-sovereignty and eventually Spanish control of the peninsula. Britain rejects any notion of Spanish sovereignty against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe with a thriving economy based on financial services, tourism and Internet gambling. The mood was subdued in Gibraltar on Friday, with people apprehensive and confused about what the result may mean for the movement of labour and capital over the border with Spain. "MASSIVE SHOCK" Gibraltar has complained in the past about excessive border controls on the Spanish side. Disputes have also broken out between Spain and Britain over fishing in waters around the Rock.

"We're very worried now about what may happen with the border," said Clive, a 54-year-old tax consultant who declined to give his surname, sitting outside a bar in a central square. "Many companies set up here because it's part of the European Union. We think this result will have a negative effect on the economy." Aaron Payas, a 31-year-old lawyer, said: "There is a lot of concern within the financial services sector given the outcome. The result is a massive shock." Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Britain's vote to leave the EU would not affect the rights of Spanish workers who he said would be able to continue to move freely between the two territories. Spain itself holds an election on Sunday, its second in six months after an inconclusive vote in December. Polls forecast a fragmented result with no clear winner, potentially leading to weeks of negotiations over the formation of a coalition government. (Additional reporting by Angus Berwick, Writing by Sonya Dowsett, Editing by Julien Toyer and Robin Pomeroy) ADVERTISEMENT 1/4 People wait in line to cast their ballots during the EU referendum at a polling station in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain.

Reuters/Jon Nazca + 2/4 Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo (L) and his wife Justine Olivero prepare their ballots inside a polling booth before casting their votes for the EU referendum at a polling station in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 23, 2016. Reuters/Jon Nazca + 3/4 People wait at a bus stop during the EU referendum in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 23, 2016. Reuters/Jon Nazca + 4/4 A woman shows passports to a Gibraltarian police officer as she and a man cross the border of Spain with Gibraltar, in a car, in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 24, 2016, after Britain voted to leave the European Union in the Brexit referendum. Reuters/Jon Nazca + Gibraltar profile - Overview - BBC News Gibraltar profile - Overview Read more about sharing. Close share panel The British overseas territory of Gibraltar, a limestone outcrop on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, occupies a commanding position at the western gateway to the Mediterranean Sea.

Spain continues to claim sovereignty over the territory, which has been ruled by Britain since 1713 under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht. Named in Arabic "Jabal Tariq", after the Muslim commander Tariq Ibn-Ziyad, who turned "the Rock" into a fortress in 711, Gibraltar has been an important naval base for more than 1,000 years. This long maritime history has resulted in a diverse population. Most Gibraltarians are bilingual in English and Spanish, and are of mixed Genoese, British, Spanish, Jewish, Maltese and Portuguese descent. Recent arrivals have included migrant workers from Morocco. Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Passenger flights between Spain and Gibraltar were blocked for nearly 30 years Gibraltarians are British citizens. They elect their own representatives to the territory's House of Assembly; the British monarch appoints a governor. Gibraltar is self-governing in all areas except defence and foreign policy. It is home to a British military garrison and naval base. At a glance A British overseas territory, Gibraltar is home to a military garrison and naval base.

Spain claims sovereignty over the territory Financial services, tourism, low-tax goods and online gambling are key sectors of the economy Profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring The EU has pressured Spain and Britain to resolve the issue of Gibraltar's status. Both sides, under the Brussels Process launched in 1984, have attempted to reach an agreement. But Spain's insistence on eventually acquiring full sovereignty, and Britain's determination to retain full control of Gibraltar's military base, have been among the stumbling blocks. Gibraltar's 1969 constitution states that there can be no transfer of sovereignty to Spain against the wishes of locals. In a 2002 referendum Gibraltarians resoundingly rejected the idea of joint sovereignty. Spain and Britain were said to have reached "broad agreement" on the concept. Free travel between Spain and Gibraltar was fully restored in 1985, but travellers continued to suffer delays at the border. In late 2006, passenger flights between Spain and Gibraltar resumed for the first time in nearly 30 years, but 2013 saw renewed border checks by Spain in response to a Gibraltarian plan to build an artificial reef.

The air link was restored after Gibraltar, Spain and Britain signed agreements aimed at improving living conditions on the Rock. The three-way talks did not cover the issue of sovereignty. With no large-scale agricultural or industrial activity, much of Gibraltar's income comes from customs duties, offshore finance, internet gaming, tourism and the provisioning of ships. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Gibraltar, with its commanding position at the entrance to the Mediterranean, has been an important base for Britain's Royal Navy Spain: We’ll Invade If Britain Leaves European Union - Andre Walker Spain: We’ll Invade If Britain Leaves European Union Share Share Tweet WESTMINSTER, United Kingdom - Spain has warned that it will invade the British territory of Gibraltar if the UK leaves the European Union. According to the Daily Express newspaper Foreign Minister, Jose Manual Garcia-Margallo, said Spain would take control of the territory “the very next day”. The threat came as Britain gears up to vote on whether to leave the EU on June 23. The referendum is currently too close too call, with voters concerned about the level of immigration into the country, but also want access to the EU’s single market.

Britain has ruled Gibraltar since it was captured from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Spanish government confirmed British rights to the territory "in perpetuity" as part of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. However, in recent years Gibraltar has suffered blockades at its border with Spain, which claims it is a haven for cheap tobacco. The Spanish Navy also regularly encroaches into Gibraltar’s waters, saying the Treaty of Utrecht did not include any of the surrounding waterways. Gibraltar is on the Southernmost tip of the Spanish peninsula, and is home to both British and American forces. It is known as ‘the rock’ and has twice voted in referenda to remain linked to the United Kingdom. As a British Overseas Territory it has effectively refused full independence and instead ceded some policy areas such as defense and foreign affairs to the UK government. In exchange it receives the protection of the UK and even votes in the European elections as part of the UK. The territory is a major player in online gambling, with a number of the world’s biggest online casinos being based there. Julia Reid, Member of the European Parliament for Gibraltar, attacked the Spanish for its threat to the rock.

She said: “Gibraltar has nothing to fear, any move for the outpost, which is as British and Britain itself, would be repelled, as every attempt has been for hundreds of years. “And even if Britain votes to leave the EU, it doesn’t make any difference, Gibraltar will still be British territory and that’s that. It sounds more like an old communique from Buenos Aires, rather than a new one from Madrid.” But Gibraltar’s own chief minister, Fabien Picardo, said that he too feared that Spain could “pounce on us” if UK decided to leave the EU. He said: “It is safer and more secure for Gibraltar to remain in the EU to deny Mr Margallo the opportunity to pounce on us. We have fought to ensure that Gibraltar is able to vote in the Brexit referendum so that we can influence that decision.” Mr Margallo said "we’ll be talking about Gibraltar the very next day" if the UK votes to leave the EU. A Foreign Office spokesman told the Express: “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.

“Our differences with Spain on Gibraltar will be resolved by political means through our relationship as EU partners, not through disproportionate measures such as the border delays we have seen over the past week. "We have many common interests with Spain and wish to continue to have a strong relationship at every level with the Government of Spain.” Other British Overseas Territories, with the same arrangements as Gibraltar, include the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda.

Question: Which British overseas territory borders Spain?
Answer: Gibraltar