For the European Union, Gibraltar is a British colony | A …

At a historic vote that could set precedents for other territorial disputes, the European Union yesterday defined the Rock of Gibraltar as "a colony of the British crown" at the request of the Spanish government . Two weeks after a possible departure from the UK without agreement with the EU, the European Parliament has defined the diplomatic battle in favor of Spain. The agreement, which was approved by the Liberties Committee with 38 votes in favor, may have great relevance for Argentina and its historic claim on the Malvinas Islands.

The document was approved as part of another series of measures before the hard Brexit. It establishes that the rock, considered by the UN as "non-autonomous territory awaiting decolonization", is erected into "colony" by the EU, nickname to which the British crown has historically resisted because it allows for a subsequent territorial claim.

The new tag that was attached to Gibraltar is part of a visa-related footnote approved by the European Parliament due to the expected failure of the Brexit, whose deadline is set at 12 April after his second extension. Europe was preparing to approve a series of measures aimed at exempting British visas from visiting the bloc after the British exit, a decision that should also be adopted for the United Kingdom with regard to European citizens. But the Spanish demand fell to the vote, which was ruled out by the British representative Claude Moraes.

What is the link between the new definition of Gibraltar and Argentina? The rock is a meeting point between two continents, Africa and Europe, and between two seas, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. Like the Malvinas Islands, it is an object of contention. The enclave is a British territory since its cession in 1713, united in the Treaty of Utrecht (set of treaties signed by the Netherlands, Great Britain and Spain during the War of Spanish Succession between 1713 and 1715). Years later, the Spaniards tried to recover the colony without success, either by military means or by claiming the territory by peaceful means. However, the current population of Gibraltar refuses any measure of political pressure to become part of Spain.

The bloc countries on Wednesday urged the President of the European Parliament to withdraw Moraes from the negotiations, as he was opposed to including this reference to Gibraltar in the legislation. Subsequently, the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, informed him that the leaders of the parliamentary groups considered that he "should not" continue as President, given the alleged lack of impartiality of the British representative, who later admitted that he had suggested a different wording on the issue.The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs decided to replace it by Bulgarian Social Democrat Sergei Stanishev.

"It is no secret that the negotiations were blocked by a footnote on Gibraltar, but it is ultimately Parliament that has shown responsibility and put forward the interests of the citizens The irresponsible strategy of the Council seriously undermines the spirit of sincere cooperation between EU institutions and I hope that this will not happen again in the future, said Mr Stanishev .

The dispute over this territory and played in one of the episodes of Brexit by the refusal of Spain to support the divorce agreement if their right of veto over the future relations between Rock and l & # 39; EU after Brexit was not guaranteed. May strongly objected because he understands that this gives Spain reasons to claim its sovereignty. Rapid reflexes, as the Brexit began to be wrecked, Spain regained its rights and began to negotiate with the rest of the European countries.

"Gibraltar is not a colony and it is totally inappropriate to describe it so," complained the British government to the Spanish maneuver, saying that Gibraltar "is part of the GB family and has dealings with the Republic. a mature and modern constitutional relationship Kingdom. "" This will not change with the departure of the European Union.All sides must respect the democratic desire of the British to live in Gibraltar, "insisted London.