The Canary Islands are facing an unprecedented rise in migration, driven by human trafficking networks exploiting the perilous Atlantic route to Europe. Increasing numbers of migrants, including individuals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Syria, are arriving from Mauritania. This shift stems from heightened border restrictions in the Balkans and Mediterranean, forcing many into dangerous routes. Migrants often endure forced labour in Mauritania under pretences before embarking on life-threatening journeys organised by Maghrebi-led smuggling networks. With over 41,000 arrivals by November 2024, the reception system, particularly for unaccompanied minors, is overwhelmed.
Despite efforts by the Canary Islands’ government to relocate children across Spain, political deadlocks and capacity constraints have left many in limbo. This urgent situation highlights the necessity for comprehensive solutions at both national and EU levels. Spain is stepping up with policies aimed at offering hope and dignity to migrants through Safe and Legal Routes, rejecting harmful pushback practices that endanger lives and contravene fundamental human rights.
To address these challenges, Spain has approved a transformative Immigration Regulation that strengthens integration by focusing on work, education, and family unity. The reform, described by Minister of Inclusion Elma Saiz as a balanced approach to extending migrants’ rights while meeting Spain’s societal and economic needs, introduces streamlined processes for visas and residence, expanded employment opportunities, and enhanced protections for students and seasonal workers. Family reunification has also been made more inclusive, extending protections to relatives of Spanish citizens and victims of violence. These measures align with EU law, addressing demographic challenges while promoting inclusion, stability, and respect for human dignity.
A new step through integration
Spain is also taking proactive steps through agreements with Gambia and Mauritania to establish circular migration frameworks. These initiatives aim to provide safe, temporary work opportunities in Spain, reducing reliance on dangerous journeys while meeting critical labour demands. By offering temporary work visas, the agreements create regulated Safe and Legal routes, allowing migrants to work in Spain and return home with improved skills and experiences.
Circular migration fosters mutual benefits: addressing Spain’s labour shortages, especially in agriculture and seasonal work, while supporting the economies of migrants’ home countries through remittances and skill transfers. This system offers a safer and more humane alternative to irregular migration, challenging exploitative smuggling networks and reducing the risks faced by vulnerable individuals.
Spain’s agreements with Gambia and Mauritania also strengthen cooperation in combating human trafficking and promoting development. These partnerships include vocational training, economic collaboration, and measures to address root causes of migration, such as poverty, instability, and lack of opportunities in origin countries.
While critics caution against the potential for oversubscription or unintended effects, circular migration is an essential step towards comprehensive, organised, and human-centred migration policies. It offers hope for reducing irregular migration by creating viable, legal alternatives that respect migrants’ dignity and rights.
Advancing Safe and Legal Routes
MAEC has emphasised the necessity of creating Safe and Legal Routes to reduce the risks posed by irregular migration. Spain’s new Immigration Regulation exemplifies this commitment, focusing on three key areas: work, education, and family reunification. By streamlining visa processes, expanding work opportunities, and safeguarding vulnerable populations such as students and seasonal workers, the regulation ensures that migrants can contribute meaningfully to society while living with dignity and security. Family reunification provisions have also been expanded, fostering social cohesion and emotional stability for migrants and their loved ones.
Additionally, Spain has signed agreements with Gambia and Mauritania to implement a circular migration framework. These agreements allow migrants to work in Spain temporarily before returning home, addressing labour shortages in sectors like agriculture and hospitality while reducing the need for irregular migration. Circular migration fosters skill development and economic benefits for both host and origin countries, offering migrants a pathway to better opportunities without endangering their lives.
Strengthening Cooperation with Origin and Transit Countries
Spain’s partnerships with Mauritania and Gambia represent a broader commitment to addressing migration through collaboration. In addition to facilitating circular migration, these agreements prioritise combating human trafficking and enhancing security cooperation. Spain’s vocational training initiatives program provide young people in countries like Senegal and Mauritania with skills to improve their prospects at home, reducing the push factors that drive irregular migration.
A Human-Centered Response
Spain’s emphasis on Safe and Legal Routes aligns with its broader advocacy for a compassionate and inclusive approach to migration which has been advocated for years by MAEC. By rejecting pushback policies, which endanger lives and violate human rights, Spain is leading the way in developing migration systems that uphold human dignity. Safe and Legal routes not only save lives but also foster integration, mutual respect, and shared economic growth.
Spain’s initiatives, supported by MAEC’s advocacy, represent a model for managing migration humanely and sustainably. By combining Safe and Legal Routes, education, and international cooperation, Spain seeks to create a future where migration is a choice, not a necessity, driven by despair. Through these efforts, Spain underscores the importance of solidarity and shared responsibility, offering hope and opportunity to those seeking a better life.
