The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Europe

Background Gibraltar, in 26 editions.

The entry for Gibraltar published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 14 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
14
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2010 edition

Changed since 2009

Open the 2010 entry

The same text in 2010 and 2011.

Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar.

In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since late 2004, tripartite talks among Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have been held with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services.

Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, late 2004, tripartite talks on other issues among Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions work continues on air movements, to speed up cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, services; environmental protection; and to allow mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions education and visa services. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to open a cultural institute from which the periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish flag will fly. and UK naval patrols. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Gibraltar: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gibraltar/background.

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