EU pushes back against Sánchez over Spain's mass migrant regularisations
Several European leaders criticise Sánchez's mass regularisations for their impact on intra-EU mobility. Spain sits at the centre of the controversy.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
EU stands up to Sánchez over his regularisations: the contagion effect nobody wants
The migration regularisation policies of Pedro Sánchez's government are starting to take a toll on relations with European partners. According to EU sources, several European leaders have voiced their discomfort at Spain's successive waves of extraordinary regularisations, which they see as a gateway into Schengen for migrants who later move on to other member states. The message is clear: "It affects us all".
The irritation has spread across the political spectrum. Even traditionally pogre governments, such as the British one under Keir Starmer, have reportedly conveyed their concern in private. The argument is that Spain acts like a sieve: it regularises people en masse, and the beneficiaries, holding a Spanish passport, move freely around the EU.
The paradox is that Spain applies European directives more generously than average, while other countries are tightening their controls. Germany, for instance, is already debating measures to curb the mobility of Spanish citizens of non-EU origin. In some districts, informal notices have even appeared warning against thefts attributed to immigrants, a sign of social tension that chancelleries would rather not normalise.
Faced with this, the Spanish government insists that its policy is humanitarian and lawful, and that it is up to Brussels to tighten the rules if it wishes. But the pressure is mounting: several member states are calling for a reform of the Schengen Borders Code that would allow restrictions on the free movement of EU citizens when their presence creates imbalances in reception systems.
The showdown is set. Sánchez has been left alone in his commitment to unlimited regularisations, and the rest of the EU no longer hides its exasperation. The question hanging in the air is how long they will wait before taking unilateral measures if Brussels does not act first.
This article is based on sources from public debate and analysis of the evolution of migration policies in the EU.
The migration regularisation policies of Pedro Sánchez's government are starting to take a toll on relations with European partners. According to EU sources, several European leaders have voiced their discomfort at Spain's successive waves of extraordinary regularisations, which they see as a gateway into Schengen for migrants who later move on to other member states. The message is clear: "It affects us all".
The irritation has spread across the political spectrum. Even traditionally pogre governments, such as the British one under Keir Starmer, have reportedly conveyed their concern in private. The argument is that Spain acts like a sieve: it regularises people en masse, and the beneficiaries, holding a Spanish passport, move freely around the EU.
The paradox is that Spain applies European directives more generously than average, while other countries are tightening their controls. Germany, for instance, is already debating measures to curb the mobility of Spanish citizens of non-EU origin. In some districts, informal notices have even appeared warning against thefts attributed to immigrants, a sign of social tension that chancelleries would rather not normalise.
Faced with this, the Spanish government insists that its policy is humanitarian and lawful, and that it is up to Brussels to tighten the rules if it wishes. But the pressure is mounting: several member states are calling for a reform of the Schengen Borders Code that would allow restrictions on the free movement of EU citizens when their presence creates imbalances in reception systems.
The showdown is set. Sánchez has been left alone in his commitment to unlimited regularisations, and the rest of the EU no longer hides its exasperation. The question hanging in the air is how long they will wait before taking unilateral measures if Brussels does not act first.
This article is based on sources from public debate and analysis of the evolution of migration policies in the EU.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (22 replies).
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