EU angers UK by calling Gibraltar a 'colony'

Watch:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfrWWQ4Kfy8 

The United Kingdom has objected to the European Union's use of the word "colony" to describe the island of 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 in a footnote: "Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the UK concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for 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 in this way. She added: "Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family....This will not change due to our exit from the EU."

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Morocco. It is home to over 30,000 people. In 1704, Anglo-Dutch forces captured it from Spain during a war. Spain handed Gibraltar to Great Britain in a 1713 treaty. However, Spain still asserts a claim to the territory. It wants Gibraltar excluded from all post-Brexit agreements between the UK and the EU. Gibraltar rejected proposals for shared UK-Spanish sovereignty by 99% to 1% in 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 of Gibraltar."

1. INDEPENDENCE: Students A strongly believe all colonies around the world should be given independence; Students B strongly believe otherwise.   
2. SOVEREIGNTY: What do you know about the sovereignty of these places? Complete this table.

	Problems
Gibraltar
Golan Heights
Falkland Islands
Ireland
Kashmir
Crimea Ukraine Catalonia

 

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	objected	a.	An extra piece of information printed at the bottom of a page.
2.	colony	b.	Not suitable or proper in the circumstances.
3.	defines	c.	Said something to express one's disapproval of or disagreement with something.
4.	footnote	d.	States or describes exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of.
5.	controversy	e.	A country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country.
6.	sovereignty	f.	Disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated.
7.	inappropriate	g.	The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

    Paragraph 2

8.	territory	h.	Took into one's possession or control by force.
9.	captured	i.	A formally concluded and signed agreement between countries.
10.	treaty	j.	A vote by the people on a single political question, which they must decide on.
11.	claim	k.	An area of land under the control of a ruler or state.
12.	proposal	l.	Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately.
13.	referendum	m.	A plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration or discussion by others.
14.	provocative	n.	A right or title to something, often land.

 

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. objected
2. body
3. controversy
4. solution
5. inappropriate
6. located
7. captured
8. excluded
9. referendum
10. in respect of

1. unsuitable
2. dispute
3. seized
4. regarding
5. organization
6. vote
7. protested
8. situated
9. answer
10. left out

5.Role play

Role  A – Borders You think borders are the biggest potential source for disputes between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as likely to cause anger. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): water, religion or pollution.

Role  B – Water You think water is the biggest potential source for disputes between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as likely to cause anger. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): borders, religion or pollution.

Role  C – Religion You think religion is the biggest potential source for disputes between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as likely to cause anger. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): water, borders or pollution.

Role  D – Pollution You think pollution is the biggest potential source for disputes between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as likely to cause anger. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): water, religion or borders. OR Natural Resources Business History Sport

6.Discussion - EU angers UK by calling Gibraltar a 'colony'

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'colony'?
2. What do you know about Gibraltar?
3. Do you think Gibraltar is a colony?
4. What do you think of the idea of colonies?
5. Why is the UK leaving the EU?
6. What will happen in the UK after the UK leaves the EU?
7. What controversies are there in your country?
8. What countries does your country have with disputes with?
9. Should all colonies get their independence?

11. What is the difference between an 'overseas territory' and a colony?
12. Should the UK return Gibraltar to Spain?
13. What do you think of the 2002 referendum result?
14. Are you surprised that Spain wants Gibraltar back?
15. What advice do you have for Spain's government?
16. What will the EU be like in ten years' time?
17. What questions would you like to ask the governor of Gibraltar?