evidence: Furthermore, Spain is ill-advised even to open the issue of the status of treaties. If Spain pushes too hard Morocco may wish to re-open a debate about Spain’s two so-called "Plazas de Soberania" (Places of Sovereignty) or enclaves embedded in Moroccan territory – Ceuta and Melilla. Ceuta was ceded to Spain by Portugal through (coincidentally) the 1668 Treaty of Lisbon whereby Melilla was conquered by Spain in 1497. Both cities have populations of around 75,000 people determined to remain both Spanish and EU citizens. Gibraltar is a Plaza de Soberania that just happens to be British populated by people just as determined to remain British. Sorry, but if Spain wants Gibraltar Madrid must first hand back Ceuta and Melilla. Do that and Spain might just have a moral leg upon which to stand, even if no legal leg.