Sanchis addresses Brussels on Melilla and Ceuta
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that he will formally request the European Commission in Brussels to recognize the cities of Ceuta and Melilla as "Ultimate Edge Regions" within the European Union, incorporating them into the EU Customs Union, and granting them permanent representation in the EU's Committee of Regions. This measure aims to change the status of these two cities at the European level, as they are currently outside the Customs Union, despite having customs exemptions for their products since Spain joined the EU in 1986. Achieving this change would require amending the European Union's founding treaty, a complex process that necessitates the approval of all member states. If these classifications are approved, both cities would benefit from substantial EU funding, tax and customs exemptions, as well as special support for their agriculture and fishing sectors. This request comes within Madrid’s efforts to strengthen the status of these cities and advance its geopolitical interests, even though international law considers their current status as an illegal occupation. Experts emphasize that such measures are driven by the desire to accumulate interests within the Union without granting any legal legitimacy to the occupation.
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