Cost of maintaining Ceuta and Melilla
The article discusses the costs and burdens borne by Spain to maintain the occupied cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The figures show that the budget allocated to these two cities reached approximately 845 million euros for 2026, despite their total population not exceeding 170,000 inhabitants. This is in addition to expenses related to development support and security, which amounted to over 711 million euros between 2023 and 2026. Security costs have also seen significant escalation, with a substantial increase in migration waves and security concerns. For instance, in July 2026, only 2,826 migrants entered Ceuta by land, marking a 150% increase compared to the previous year. Economically, growth rates are weak, with unemployment exceeding 20%, and the per capita income is below the Spanish average. This reflects the economic fragility of the two cities and highlights that maintaining ongoing occupation is an increasingly costly burden. Possible solutions are leaning toward shared governance or enhanced security and economic cooperation rather than full sovereignty, given the high costs relative to the limited strategic returns.
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