Being ‘European’ in Gibraltar

Abstract

This paper explores the question of how Gibraltar's contemporary identity is evolving as its inhabitants manipulate their status as citizens of a contested territory of the European Union. The people of Gibraltar exploit the connotations of 'being European' as part of their ongoing battle to resist Spanish and British efforts to negotiate a bilateral solution to the question of Gibraltar's future political status. Gibraltarians refer to the example of other member state dependencies as they attempt to 'decolonise' their territory and 'modernise' its relations with Britain. The article considers local, British and Spanish variants of 'decolonisation.' While Gibraltar's self-definition as the exemplary European has achieved some recognition, its partial exclusion from the EU causes friction while allowing it to navigate rather uncertainly between possible further autonomy and integration with the UK. Only the former is acceptable to Madrid, and that only within the Spanish state. The European Union has so far been unable to provide a framework within which the dispute may find a solution.