The Spanish are ALWAYS unhappy about Gibraltar.
The UK could hand it to them on a platter with ribbons attached, the Spanish would demand compensation for the over 300 years they had to do without it.
In this particular case (for those not having Spanish) the chief item of dissent being that Spain's veto power over the status of the rock is not sufficiently covered. Put a bit simply but Madrid, equally deluded into still thinking itself to be a world power, is miffed that Brussels didn't include it in negotiations with London.
Hayzooz Achey Christo :roll:
Cant really blame the Spanish that much... both sides are idiots, but in this case the British are by far the worst. Let me explain a bit why I think of this.
1) The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 that gave Gibraltar to the UK is quite specific. It is only the "Rock".. not the present airport and football stadium areas and large parts of the harbour. This is actually part of the core problem. The British Empire literally stole Spanish land and frankly should give it back. When the plague hit the dirty pirate hold of Gibraltar (which was then), the British "asked nicely" to be able to set up a field hospital for quarantine on Spanish soil. That is the football stadium area today. Then the plague came back a few decades later, and they asked nicely again (no one said no to the British Empire at the time) and the Spanish allowed a new field hospital to be set up in what is the airport now. In both case, Spain did not have the power to take back land that was rightfully theirs and still is. Frankly I doubt many Spaniards could care less about the "Rock" since it is barely inhabitable, even today. These historical issues are the root cause in many ways and understandably if you ask me..or ask the Indians or other nations that were forced into the British Empire.
2) Present day issues are a problem..
A) Tax haven. Gibraltar has been a tax haven for a very long time and it has caused problems not only for the Spanish. Because Gibraltar is technically in the EU, then the uber wealthy own a small apartment in Gibraltar for tax purposes, but live in Spain in their multi million dollar villas. Hell even the freaking guy who leads Gibraltar, a rich lawyer.. lives in Spain! The amount of tax dodging going on is huge and that is ironic since Gibraltar does not have any real taxes and is pleading with Westminister for money more than not..
B) Criminality. It ties a bit into the above but deserves its own section. Gibraltar is used by gun and drug runners as a safe haven and the Gibraltarian police often protect these criminals. So when the Spanish police chase a gun/drug runner on the water, and he goes into Gibraltarian waters.. what does the Gib police do? Stop the Spanish police and let the criminals go. WTH? Time and time again this happens and I fully understand the Spanish stance on this.. the Gib police should be working with the Spanish police in stopping criminals, not protecting them. And that brings up another accusation.. corruption in Gibraltar. It is hard to prove but considering the corruption and money laundering that has happened in other British Overseas Territories, then it is not exactly far out so to say. Since the Gib police often protect criminals, then one has to ask.. why do they do that?
But lets be realistic here.. Gibraltar is Spanish in all but name. Why? If you go there, the primary language is.. Spanish. Only people you actually hear speaking English are the tourists and the cops. Shops and workers are all Spanish citizens or speakers. Both sides of the border need each other.
I do understand the Spanish viewpoint because Gib and other British Overseas Territories should not be put at the same level as Wales and Scotland. Most of the British Overseas Territories are tax havens and letting them inside any deal would be catastrophic.. unless it curbs their "tax haven" status, but the agreement aint exactly clear on that as far as I can see.
But we shall see.. chances are that the British will screw the pooch anyways and it will be a mute point.
