Inside Europe Spain's radically different migration approach
Dec 4, 2025
Angelo van Schaik is a dedicated reporter known for his work on Italy's prison reform and the conditions at Secondigliano prison. Elenia Gostoli is a journalist focusing on the pressing issues surrounding environmental activism and journalism. They delve into Spain's innovative approach to migration, discussing its regularization plans and economic benefits. Van Schaik shares insights from an Italian prison's reform efforts, while Gostoli highlights the troubling circumstances surrounding the murder of journalist Hakan Tosun, revealing serious gaps in the investigation.
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Migration As Economic Strategy
- Spain sees migration as an economic opportunity rather than a threat, linking immigrants to growth and labour needs.
- Pedro Sanchez's government shortened regularisation from three to two years to legalise up to 300,000 undocumented workers annually.
Where Labour Shortages Actually Are
- Spain's labour shortages focus on low-skilled sectors like agriculture, construction and hospitality despite high youth unemployment.
- Immigrants can fill these roles while native tertiary-educated youth seek different opportunities.
Taxi Driver From Ecuador
- Ashish Sharma recounts a taxi driver from Ecuador who easily obtained a tourist visa and has lived in Spain for over 20 years.
- The driver and other migrants often aim to study first and then find work, illustrating common migration paths from Latin America.