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Denver – A Spanish survey has revealed that one in five Spanish people think that the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla will be Moroccan within 25 years. After the migrant incident that rattled Ceuta last month, it appears that a significant population of Spanish citizens are divided in their opinions of the future of Spain’s enclaves in North Africa
In a study conducted by the Spanish Sociological Research Center (CIS), one in five Spaniards believe that Ceuta and Melilla will be part of Morocco in about 20 to 25 years. In comparison, about 54% believe the cities would remain Spanish territories, and 25% have no opinion one way or another.
Both territories have been an extensive part of both Moroccan and Spanish history for hundreds of years, and currently the populations of both Ceuta and Melilla feature a significant population of both Spanish and Moroccans descent
As for the cultural identity of Ceuta and Melilla, about 75% of Spaniards believe the cities were “as Spanish as Malaga or La Coruña” while 15.1% believe the cities are distinctly Moroccan. Both cities have long been a melting pot of Moroccan and Spanish culture, which for the most part has consisted of peaceful coexistence.
On the question of immigration, 55.6% of Spaniards still maintain it is positive for the country, while only 27% believe it is negative. Immigration was named Spain’s primary concern by only 1% of the surveyed population, while 19% listed unemployment as the main national concern.
Spain has struggled with tackling its lingering unemployment issues as it currently sits as the number two worst EU nation in terms of unemployment with 13.02% of its population jobless, according to data collection site Statista. The unemployment statistics in Ceuta and Melilla are much higher. Ceuta reported that nearly 29% of its population is unemployed, while in Melilla the rate is at about 21%.
The sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla has always been a source of contention for Morocco and Spain. Morocco has refused to recognize Spanish authority over the two cities, and consider it an anachronistic remnant of Spanish colonialism. Morocco has continuously called for negotiations to discuss the future of both cities, which the Spanish have continued to unilaterally ignore. The Spanish have continued to claim Ceuta and Melilla are distinctly “Spanish” cities, an opinion that many in Morocco have labelled as hypocritical, considering Spain’s ongoing dispute with the UK over Gibraltar.
