Year 2021
As the most important points to highlight in the Migration and Asylum Report of the year 2021, we can point out that, through Royal Decree 903/2021, the legal regime of minors under guardianship when they reach legal age of majority has been modified, in order to avoid the situation of supervening irregularity and social exclusion and to favor their integration. The final objective of the reform is to promote inclusion and reduce the vulnerability of these people.
On the other hand, the Migration Budget for 2022 increases by 17%. It strengthens the state reception network and reinforces actions devoted to the development of legal pathways. Furthermore, a big effort will be made in terms of digitalization.
Finally, the National Strategic Plan against human trafficking 2021-2023 (PENTRA) has been approved. This Strategic Plan is the first comprehensive tool in Spain to address all forms of human trafficking.
Year 2020
This report collects the main actions carried out by Spain in the migration field, which were influenced by the COVID-19 outbreak. Different measures were adopted to avoid the supervening irregularity of migrants who were already in Spain as workers, tourists, residents, or students. Other measures were implemented to adapt to new labour market needs (agricultural or health sector) which was very affected by the mobility restrictions. Also, certain actions were carried out in reception centers, border control, detention centers or development cooperation.
Year 2019
Spain had a government in office during most of 2019, thus the General State Budgets could not be approved and those for 2018 had to be extended. Given these circumstances, the government could not endorse draft laws or political projects related to migration. Despite this, the government promoted certain strands of migration policy such as the migratory flows management, cooperation with countries of origin and destination, and integration. Consequently, a new Order was approved to regulate the management of recruitment in countries of origin and the development of the visa project for descendants of Spaniards in Argentina. Moreover, the project “Young generations as change agents” was developed in cooperation with Morocco.
Year 2018
With the new government in June 2018, the migration policy approach was based in 5 basic pillars: 1) an orderly, regular, and safe migration; 2) fight against irregular migration; 3) ensure humanitarian assistance to newcomers; 4) promote a European policy on asylum and migration, including collaboration with countries of origin, transit, and destination; and 5) integration of immigrants and refugees. At the multilateral level, Spain supported the Global Compact for Orderly, Safe and Regular Migration and worked on the achievement of its objectives.
Year 2017
During 2017, there was no relevant regulatory changes due to the lack of agreements at parliamentary level. However, progress has been made in the implementation of public policies and cooperation with countries of origin and transit. Among the highlights of this year, it is worth mentioning the Spanish negotiations of the Blue Card Directive and the transposition of the Directive for students and researchers as mechanisms to promote foreigners’ intra-European mobility. Also, during 2017, Spain worked in the pilot projects of legal migration promoted by the European Commission, positioning itself in favour of fostering circular migration for labour purposes, training, or entrepreneurship in the fields of interest to the countries of origin.