A large majority of Spaniards consider strong relations with Morocco a strategic priority and back tighter border controls, according to the latest barometer published by Spain’s Centre for Sociological Research (CIS).
The survey, conducted in early September among 4,042 respondents, found that 86.3 percent of those polled attach “a lot or quite a lot” of importance to maintaining good relations with Rabat.
Only 10.1 percent said the issue held little or no importance.
The findings underscore a broad consensus in Spanish public opinion that cooperation with Morocco is essential for regional stability and border security.
Support for enhanced border surveillance is similarly strong, with 82.2 percent of respondents deeming it necessary.
Faced with migratory pressures, an even larger share- 89.4 percent- called for greater involvement by the European Union to assist the Spanish government in managing the situation in Ceuta.
On the status of Ceuta and Melilla, 77.1 percent of those surveyed affirmed that the two cities are “just as Spanish as any other region” of the country.
At the same time, 14.3 percent described their situation as “ambiguous and special,” arguing that this particularity should lead to consultations and direct agreements with Morocco.
The poll also revealed a notable level of suspicion regarding external interference. Some 67.7 percent of participants believe an outside force has sought to inflame tensions between Madrid and Rabat.
The CIS, a public body attached to the Spanish government, regularly conducts opinion surveys that serve as a key indicator of public attitudes on national and international issues.
The latest results portray Morocco as an indispensable neighbor in the eyes of most Spaniards, even as residual sensitivities surrounding Ceuta and Melilla persist.