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.
- objected
- body
- controversy
- solution
- inappropriate
- located
- captured
- excluded
- referendum
- in respect of
- unsuitable
- dispute
- seized
- regarding
- organization
- vote
- protested
- situated
- answer
- left out
5.Role play
Role
A – Borders |
Role
B – Water |
Role
C – Religion |
Role
D – Pollution OR
|
6.Discussion - EU angers UK by calling Gibraltar a
'colony'
- What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'colony'?
- What do you know about Gibraltar?
- Do you think Gibraltar is a colony?
- What do you think of the idea of colonies?
- Why is the UK leaving the EU?
- What will happen in the UK after the UK leaves the EU?
- What controversies are there in your country?
- What countries does your country have with disputes with?
- Should all colonies get their independence?
- What is the difference between an 'overseas territory' and a
colony?
- Should the UK return Gibraltar to Spain?
- What do you think of the 2002 referendum result?
- Are you surprised that Spain wants Gibraltar back?
- What advice do you have for Spain's government?
- What will the EU be like in ten years' time?
- What questions would you like to ask the governor of Gibraltar?
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