[REVISION HISTORY]

Spanish sovereignty claims for Ceuta and Melilla

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2026-09-27 07:48 UTC → 2026-10-03 08:54 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Legal and regional organizations in Spain have issued formal defenses of the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla. In Madrid, the Madrid Interprofessional Union and the Madrid Bar Association released a manifesto asserting that the cities are an “indisputable part of Spain” and should not be viewed as a “constitutional periphery.” This manifesto called for greater institutional involvement to manage migration and security while maintaining the rule of law. Following this, the Soria Provincial Council, supported by the PP and Vox, approved a motion defending Spanish sovereignty over the two cities. The council urged the central government to implement extraordinary measures to maintain security and order in the autonomous cities. In Cuenca, the People's Party (PP) municipal group announced plans to present a similar motion, stating that national sovereignty is “indisputable and non-negotiable.” Political debate has intensified with conflicting proposals. Carles Puigdemont described the cities as ‘colonies within Morocco,’ while former Prime Minister José María Aznar advocated for an increased military presence, stating ‘the future of Spain will depend on what happens in Ceuta.’ Most recently, the Granada City Council approved a motion from the Popular Group to defend sovereignty, calling for extraordinary and sustained resources to manage border control. This comes amid reports from law enforcement agencies expressing concern over their ability to respond to future mass incursions. Police officers have indicated they feel “tied” due to a lack of legal certainty, noting that current immigration laws lack specific protocols for handling sudden surges of tens of thousands of people. Support for sovereignty has expanded to the Canary Islands, where the Cabildo de Tenerife passed a motion reaffirming the “inseparable belonging” of Ceuta and Melilla to Spain based on history and constitutional law.

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