The initiative breaks with the migration policy currently established by the European Union, based on the tightening of border controls and the acceleration of repatriations.
EU leaders also fear that massive regularization in Spain will have direct effects on the rest of the member states, in a Schengen area without internal border controls.
The legalization of migrants on a large scale in Spain “could cause a pull effect towards Europe and, subsequently, secondary migration within the European continent,” said the spokesperson for the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, Markus Haindlin a statement sent to EL ESPAÑOL.
“Therefore, this approach is clearly rejected by many EU Member Statesas well as for Austria,” the spokesperson stressed.
The rest of the delegations that this newspaper has asked remain silent for now.
For now, the Commission Ursula von der Leyen refuses to value Sánchez’s initiative, arguing that it is an internal political debate.
“We are aware of the debates that are taking place in Spain,” explains a spokesperson for the Community Executive when asked about the decree approved this Tuesday in the Council of Ministers.
“Decisions and policies aimed at regularizing the situation of third-country nationals who are in an irregular situation are exclusive competence of the Member States. The European Commission has no powers in this matter,” alleges the spokesperson.
However, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration himself, Magnus Brunneralready warned a few months ago, when asked about the case of Spain, that when proposing any regularization its impact on all Member States must be considered and its effects must be rigorously analyzed. possible effects in terms of security and migratory flows.
In a written response to a parliamentary question to which this newspaper has had access, Brunner begins by repeating word for word the official line from Brussels: this is a matter of national competence on which the Commission cannot intervene.
“That said, Member States must ensure that these decisions do not put at risk the integrity of the EU common space without internal border controls and must properly evaluate their possible implications in immigration and security matters“Brunner then adds.
“More generally, the EU is supporting Member States in reduction of irregular migrationstrengthening cooperation with affected third countries and preventing irregular arrivals, intensifying the fight against human trafficking networks and improving returns for those who do not have the right to remain in the Union“concludes the Migration Commissioner.
Sánchez, isolated in Brussels
That is to say, Brunner takes advantage of his response to remember what is the dominant line in the EU in terms of migration policy, which collides head-on with the massive regularization approved by the Sánchez Government.
In recent years, Sánchez has remained practically isolated in Brussels by advocating an increase in migration as a response to the “demographic winter” and to boost the economy, while the rest of the European partners reinforce controls and accelerate expulsions.
A tightening of immigration policy that is not limited to the governments of the European People’s Party or the radical right, but is also practiced, for example, by the socialist Executive of Mette Frederiksen in Denmark.
The complete loneliness of the Spanish Government was once again evident last December, during the meeting of the EU Interior Council, in which Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Elma Saiz participated.
There, the Twenty-seven approved the norm that gives legal coverage to the creation of migrant deportation centers in non-EU countries, following the model tested by the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, in its agreements with Albania. Spain was the only member state that voted against.
The previous massive regularization of irregular immigrants in Spain approved in 2005 by the Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero It has already generated widespread rejection and controversy among European partners.
During several consecutive meetings of the European interior ministers, Countries like Germany, Austria and France publicly complained of this unilateral measure and accused Zapatero of generating with his policies a “call effect“, a position that ended up also being assumed by the European Commission.
As a result of Zapatero’s regularization, the EU created a early warning mechanism which obliges governments to notify the Community Executive and the rest of the partners of any decision on asylum and immigration that may affect the entire Union. There is no evidence that it was activated on this occasion.