In late 2025, anti-immigration sentiment surged across Europe as 37 nations, including the UK, Denmark and Italy, pushed to reform the European Convention on Human Rights. Their goal? Streamlined deportations that would toughen border controls.
Meanwhile, Spain has taken a different camino. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has doubled down on the idea that immigration isn't just a matter of humanity – it's a growth engine. "We defend our conviction that immigration is not only a matter of humanity…but that it is also necessary for the prosperity of our economy and the sustainability of our welfare state," he told parliament.
Numbers back him up: Spain grew by about 3% of GDP in 2025, twice the European average. Over the past three years, the government granted legal status to nearly a million undocumented migrants, and today migrants make up 25%-50% of the workforce in key sectors like construction and tourism. 🌍💼
Emilio Ramirez-Matos, lawyer and immigration expert at Ramirez Crespo Law Firm, tells us: "Spain is Europe's gateway to Africa and to Latin American countries…we have a strong system of integration and regulation. Migration enriches and helps make the country work."
As 2026 kicks off, the big question is: can Spain's open-door stance weather the far-right wave and ECHR reform pressure? For young professionals, students and travelers alike, Spain's experiment offers lessons on how migration and growth can go hand in hand. Stay tuned as this story unfolds! 🚀✨
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Can Spain's open immigration stance survive 2026 and the far right?
cgtn.com
