EU Citizenship and Migration Law: Reshaping the Balance of Multi-National Communities? The Case of Ceuta and Melilla

Abstract:

The impact of EU law on the situation of the third country nationals in Ceuta and Melilla has been twofold. The first phase of the construction of an European identity through free movement law had an important impact on the population of the autonomous cities, since the accession of Spain to the EU, which entailed the introduction of several modifications in field of immigration law, led to the emergence of differentiated legal regimes which were previously inexistent, strengthening the differences of status based on nationality.

In more recent times, the introduction of the EU migration law has partially overcome this situation. Taking this scenario into account, this article addresses the way in which free movement law—including the Schengen acquis—and EU citizenship have affected the traditional division between citizens and third country nationals in the autonomous cities and the impact of EU immigration policy.