EU Commissioner Margaritis Schinas has sparked a fierce debate by claiming that Gibraltar belongs to Spain, while also casting doubt on the likelihood of a Brexit agreement concerning the territory before June.

In response to inquiries about the prolonged negotiations in Seville, Schinas provocatively said “Gibraltar español,” resurrecting a slogan steeped in historical contention that means “Gibraltar is Spanish”.

The comments sparked the furious reaction of Brexiteer and author of Good News About UK Global Trade, Gully Foyle.

He blasted: “The EU said the quiet bit out loud.

“They expect their pound of flesh for the UK daring to leave their club – and that flesh is Gibraltar (and NI).

“But this is ultimately what the EU is – a homogenisation, a stripping of identity. No. No more.”

Despite Gibraltar’s longstanding status as a British Overseas Territory since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, Spain maintains its claim over the territory.

Schinas’s comment drew swift condemnation from Madrid, which labelled it “unfortunate and incomprehensible”.

The ongoing negotiations seek to establish a post-Brexit arrangement for Gibraltar, particularly regarding border controls and sovereignty issues, with the looming deadline of June’s European Parliament elections adding urgency to the discussions.

Former UK Cabinet Minister David Jones stressed Gibraltar’s British identity, stating firmly: “Gibraltar is ‘British, British, British.'”

The European Commission sought to distance itself from Schinas’s remarks, emphasising that negotiations are under the purview of Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and progressing as planned, albeit entering a “sensitive phase”.

As tensions simmer over Gibraltar’s status and the intricacies of border management, the situation remains fraught with uncertainty, with stakeholders stressing the importance of finding a resolution that balances regional stability and respect for Gibraltar’s wishes.