Morocco has repeatedly referred to Ceuta and Melilla using terminology with a pejorative and derogatory undertone: garrisons; occupied, expropriated or usurped cities; enclaves; and colonial enclaves, for example. Here it is merely pointed out that, with regard to the ‘enclaves’ label, the cities cannot be ‘enclaves’ in the legal sense sinc

For its part, Spain considers that it has valid legal entitlements to sovereignty pursuant to international law. There are various entitlements for each territory: in the case of the cities, a claim of occupation by the kingdom of Castile (Melilla) and of assignment from Portugal (Ceuta); moreover, Spain’s presence and sovereignty was repeatedly