Spain has said it will not agree to the draft Brexit withdrawal deal without clarity over how talks on the future status of Gibraltar should be handled. Foreign Minister Josep Borrell made this clear following a meeting with EU ministers. He insists that talks about the territory are "separate negotiations". Spain maintains a claim to Gibraltar, which was ceded to the British crown under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Al Goodman reports from Gibraltar.

AL GOODMAN GIBRALTAR "The Rock of Gibraltar may be sturdy and firm. But getting a deal on the future of this tiny British outpost in the Brexit talks has been anything but. Disagreements have cropped up right down to the negotiating deadline between the European Union and Britain. Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain 300 years ago after a war. But hasn't renounced its claim to the territory. From over here, in Spain, it's the future of Gibraltar that especially concerns the government. Just days ago, Spain threatened to vote against the draft Brexit deal unless it has a say on future trade or security deals involving Gibraltar. But just weeks ago, Spain said it mostly agreed with the Gibraltar portion of the Brexit deal. It reportedly protects the rights of 8000 Spaniards who cross the border daily to work here in Gibraltar."

PABLO JIMENEZ SPANISH CONSTRUCTION WORKER IN GIBRALTAR "We must put jobs first. It's a necessity for us to work and have a job and keep on working."

The draft Brexit deal leaves out, for now, the thorny issue of Spain's push to have joint control of Gibraltar's airport, which Britain has opposed.

Gibraltar, with a population of about 32,000, wants to be fully included in Britain's exit deal from the European Union.

Here on high street, they don't want any Spanish control.

JOHN MARTINEZ RETIRED GIBRALTAR RESIDENT "Not at all. We've been British for all my life and we're going to stay like that. For another 300 years."

MARY REGINA MARTINEZ RETIRED GIBRALTAR RESIDENT "We are very, very British. And we've been born here and I'm sorry, that's it."

The Rock has stood the test of time. Now some here are wondering if the provisions about Gibraltar, in the Brexit deal between the UK and the European Union, will have the same durability.

Spain, among others, will be watching closely. Al Goodman, CGTN, Gibraltar.