MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Gibraltar is located on the Iberian peninsula and controlled by London since 1713. Some 300 years ago, Spain ceded Gibraltar to the United Kingdom, but Madrid is still trying to return it back.
"If Gibraltar wanted to have access to the single market and the rights we enjoy today of free movement, we would have to once again consider joint sovereignty with Spain which no one in Gibraltar is prepared to consider," Picardo told the Sky News television channel.
Inhabitants of the overseas territory had held two referendums on its sovereignty in 1967 and in 2002, that resulted in rejection of proposals to unite with Spain.
UK nationals are set to vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership, after UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the 27 other EU member states reached a deal in February to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc.
