The
plazas de soberanía (, literally "places of sovereignty") are the
Spanish sovereign territories in continental
North Africa bordering
Morocco. The name refers to the fact that these territories have been a part of Spain since the formation of the modern Spanish State (1492–1556), to distinguish them from territories obtained during the 19th and 20th century. A part of
Spain in all respects, they are also a part of the
European Union and the
Schengen Area.