Spain’s opposition pledges quotas to cap immigrants entering country

Spain’s main opposition party and likely next government, the centre-right Partido Popular (PP), has outlined plans for “annual quotas” to cap migrants arriving in the country.

The announcement came amid a flurry of policies made during the launch of the PP manifesto this week, just weeks before Spain’s general election on November 29th.

It pledges not only caps on migrant numbers, but tying the quotas to sectoral needs and the state’s ability to receive migration.

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In a section titled “Living in Spain will be a mutual commitment”, the document states that “immigration will be adjusted to our country’s actual capacity to receive immigrants.”

“We will set annual quotas that determine how many workers can come and for which sectors,” it adds.

In a nod to further crackdowns on illegal migration, the PP will include “only those countries that cooperate on repatriation and the control of irregular immigration will be eligible.”

There are no specific figures in the policy proposal, however, so therefore no indication of what the caps could be: “We will review the quotas each year in line with unemployment figures and unfilled vacancies, and adjust them to the country’s capacity in terms of  housing, public services and employment.”

The PP programme significantly tightens immigration measures, with Spanish media speculating that it is a nod toward the establishment of migrant return centres in third countries outside the European Union – the so-called Meloni model. 

The PP is also committed to reforming the Immigration Act and legislation on the protection of minors “to prioritise family reunification” for foreign minors.

The PP will introduce the “offence of fraud relating to identity, age or nationality” and also wants to establish a “single authority” for migration matters.

The document outlines a plan for a maximum period of seven days to identify those entering the country irregularly across the border, and will examine and publish an annual report on the impact of immigration on employment, wages, housing, public services and the Social Security accounts. 

The PP maintains that entry into Spain may only be through legal channels, to be organised via a points-based visa system that assesses education, experience, language skills and integration. 

Residence in Spain will require a commitment to integration, including to “learn Spanish, familiarise oneself with the Constitution and the values of the European Union and, where appropriate, undertake training for employment”. 

Polls suggest that the PP will win Spain’s general election on November 29th, though it will likely fall short of an overall majority and form a coalition with far-right Vox. 

In recent years, as Vox has surged in the polls, the PP has moved rightward on immigration and culture – now the party is properly outlining its plan for government.

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