The UK has objected to the EU's use of the word "colony" to describe the island of Gibraltar. The EU made a document regarding UK citizens 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." The UK replied: "Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe it in this way.…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 between Spain and Morocco. Over 30,000 people live there. In 1704, Britain captured it from Spain. It was handed to the UK in a 1713 treaty. Spain still claims the territory. It wants the EU to exclude Gibraltar from all post-Brexit agreements with the UK. Gibraltar rejected the idea of a shared UK-Spanish sovereignty by 99% to 1% in a 2002 referendum. Gibraltar's Chief Minister accused Spain of bullying. He said: "No one will be surprised to hear the Spanish government making provocative statements in respect of Gibraltar."