evidence: Ceuta (Spanish: sewta; Arabic: سَبْتَة, romanized: Sabtah) is a Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa. It is one of several Spanish territories in Africa and, along with Melilla and the Canary Islands, one of only a few that are permanently inhabited by a civilian population. It was a regular municipality belonging to the province of Cádiz prior to the passing of its Statute of Autonomy in March 1995, henceforth becoming an autonomous city. Portugal took possession of Ceuta in 1415. During the Iberian Union 1580 to 1640, Ceuta attracted many settlers of Spanish origin. [...] Ceuta is one of the major plazas de soberanía (places of sovereignty) along with Melilla. There are also minor plazas de soberanía that include the rest of Spanish possessions that are mainly little islands with the exception of a peninsula. [...] Ceuta is an integral part of Spain, and therefore of the European Union; its border and its equivalent in Melilla are the only two land borders between the European Union and an African country.