Political Status
Melilla and Ceuta are the only two European-Union territories located in mainland Africa.
The government of Morocco has repeatedly requested from Spain the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, of Perejil Island, and of some other small areas lacking permanent population. The Spanish position is that both Ceuta and Melilla are integral parts of the Spanish state, and have been since the 15th century, centuries before Morocco's independence from France in 1956. Morocco denies these claims and maintains that the Spanish presence on or near its coast is a remnant of the colonial past which should be ended. The United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories does not include these Spanish territories. In 2012 El Pais quoted unnamed Spanish military sources who said "The really expensive thing is maintaining Melilla, which also lacks any strategic interest, unlike Ceuta."
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