Speech by the President of the Government of Spain at the launch of the Integration and Citizenship Plan and the government campaign "Where do they come from? They come from building the country"

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Good morning, and first of all, thank you to the social partners here with us today, and of course to the media for publicising and covering

this important event for the Government of Spain and for Spanish society as a whole. Of course, I would like to thank the ministries involved that are represented here today, as well as the Dean of the COAM - which is hosting us once again at an event of great importance to the COAM and to this government - and, of course, the other authorities present.

Ladies and gentlemen, I shall also begin with a brief anecdote. Just two months ago, when we set the whole regularisation process in motion, I met a migrant woman called Diana. She is Peruvian, lives in Madrid, runs a beauty salon and, when she arrived in Spain, left her daughter - who was barely a year old - behind in Peru. She also told us at that meeting that it was precisely because of her daughter that he made the decision to come to Spain. Let's think about it for a moment: leaving the people you love most behind in an attempt to give them a better future. It may seem paradoxical, but that is the reality and the decision made by a great many migrants. Diana lived without papers for three years. She worked as a live-in nanny, without a contract and therefore without any employment rights, unable to hug her own daughter whilst looking after other people's children. Her life, of course, changed thanks to an extraordinary regularisation process, also spearheaded by a progressive government in 2005.

Diana's story is one of personal success that I would like to celebrate, but it is also one of failure which - I would say - we could describe as collective, because she was already here. She was living here. She was working here. She was contributing to the country's prosperity here. And what happened, what she suffered, is that we denied her the possibility of doing so with rights and without the possibility, therefore, of contributing all her talent to our country.

When we condemn a person to invisibility, I believe we make our country worse. We all lose out; we lose their contribution, and we also undermine our own sense of community. That is why, in recent years, the Government of Spain has implemented a migration policy which I would describe as responsible, one that focuses on ensuring legal, safe and orderly migration. Because whilst others, unfortunately, use migration for political gain, we shape migration policy. A policy that understands migration for what it is: a phenomenon intrinsic to human history; one that acknowledges the drivers that compel people to move - including Spaniards, and not just in the distant past, during the dictatorship or the Civil War, but even recently, following the financial crisis and Europe's failed response, when we saw so many of our young people emigrate to other parts of the world, particularly elsewhere in Europe. In recent years, this Government has implemented a responsible migration policy focused on ensuring legal, safe and orderly migration, because we recognise the importance of such public policy, as previously described.

We acknowledge that the forces driving people to migrate are far stronger than the obstacles they may encounter along the way. What's more, whilst we were with Ángel Víctor, who was accompanying the Pope on his visit to the Canary Islands, we heard harrowing, painful and dramatic stories from migrants who had left everything behind in a bid to secure a future and new opportunities for their families. We know, therefore, that no wall or barrier can halt the determination to achieve a better life, and we understand that while migration offers countless opportunities, it also presents challenges for the societies that receive migrants. Challenges to which we must respond intelligently and with common sense.

There are only two ways to approach migration. One - which, unfortunately, we are witnessing in Spain, as well as across Europe and many other parts of the world - is to deny this reality, to deny the fact that migration is an intrinsic part of the human experience; this approach fuels fear and stokes xenophobic rhetoric that solves nothing.

Let's take, for example, the figures for a regional government such as Extremadura: it has the lowest percentage of foreign-born residents in Spain - barely 4%. It is also the safest region in our country and the one with the cheapest housing, whether you're buying or renting. It is also one of the autonomous communities most affected by the demographic challenge - the "demographic winter" plaguing the entire West, and by extension, Europe and our own country. Yet, there have been political groups that have made migration and crime the central issues of their election campaigns - not because the data supported it (as I mentioned earlier, Extremadura is one of Spain's safest regions), but because they needed to construct a specific narrative.

There is one figure that perfectly sums up what is at stake. Without immigration, Spain would lose 19% of its Gross Domestic Product by 2050 and 22% by 2075, meaning a 19% decline over the next 25 years and a 22% drop over the next 50 years. And what does this mean from a business perspective, and also from an employment perspective? For example, 90,000 bars would have to close down, 50,000

primary and secondary school classrooms would be left without pupils, and around 220,000 farms would disappear - effectively one in three. That is the kind of country some people want: a country turned inward and, consequently, empty, poorer and weaker - with fewer resources to fund the welfare state, social and territorial cohesion, and - logically - to ensure the economic growth necessary for subsequent redistribution.

The second way of approaching migration is not to deny it, but to accept reality and, therefore, manage it. To manage the phenomenon in order to capitalise on the opportunities it presents and, naturally, to address the challenges that migration entails. And Spain - and, by extension, its Government - has chosen this path. We do this, first and foremost, to remain true to our own past. I mentioned this earlier, because we know what it means to emigrate. We do this not only for the sake of consistency, but also out of a sense of responsibility. And we do so for practical reasons too, because in a country - like the rest of the West - that is facing a demographic decline, immigration, alongside the family policies that this government has been implementing for some time now, helps to meet those labour market needs. Also, to sustain the welfare state and keep many regions alive. I remember last summer, whilst fires were ravaging many parts of our country, meeting a mayor from Villablino, in León, who told me that they wanted migrants in their town precisely so that they could keep the schools open and sustain the town.

Therefore, we do it out of intelligence too, and of course we do it out of humanity, out of empathy. To govern, my friends, is to make decisions. And some of the decisions taken by the government say something not only about the country we are, but also about the country we aspire to be. And I think this is one of them. One of the most important and far-reaching decisions an administration can take. Because that is how we want the world to see Spain: as a country that respects, protects and upholds human rights. A country that looks around it - just as we too should do every day - with empathy, and which recognises the dignity of those who already live, work and are building their lives amongst us. In short, a Spain that will be better than it already is, not only because it is taking a sensible decision that is good for our economy - which it undoubtedly is - but because now, precisely now, it is doing the only decent and morally acceptable thing, which is to reach out rather than turn its back on the reality of migration in our country.

Spain has never made progress by building walls. I would say that no society has ever made progress by building walls between those who share the same future. Societies do this, and that is the path Spain has taken: expanding rights, strengthening social cohesion and committing to integration. That is why I am convinced that, in the future, we will look back on this step as a decision that made Spain a fairer, stronger country - and above all, and this is what we are celebrating today, a better Spain. Because a Spain that recognises rights and the dignity of its people is a better country.

And, furthermore, allow me to say this - and I would also say this to the media - so that, in the public debate, or at least in published reports, figures will be presented showing how well this policy is working, because these are policies that deliver results. Almost half of GDP growth since 2022 can be attributed to the arrival of migrants. Around 20% of the growth in GDP per capita in recent years is linked to their contribution. So, when we come together as a country, what we are doing is moving forward, growing and making progress together.

And so, let no one be under any illusion. We are doing all this without relinquishing control of our borders. Often, there is a deliberate attempt to link migration solely to irregular arrivals - people who are frequently deceived by human-trafficking networks that put human lives at risk. We have seen it in the Mediterranean and, naturally, on the Atlantic coast of Africa as well.

But if we look at the figures, so far this year, irregular arrivals have fallen by a third compared with the same period in 2025. And in the case of the Canary Islands, we are talking about a reduction of more than 70%. Therefore, regarding this so-called 'pull factor' that some people talk about, we have the data. And in the face of fear, a rigorous policy. And in the face of hatred, humanity and empathy.

That is why, dear Minister Elma, today we are taking another step forward with the presentation of the Integration and Citizenship Plan, a proposal from Spain to manage migration in a way that is orderly, fair and intelligent, and consistent with the work we have been doing over the last few years. A plan to improve the lives of those who arrive, as well as those of us who welcome them - the society that takes them in, which is Spanish society.

To what end? To make the most of the opportunities offered by migration. And, as I said earlier, to respond to the social challenges that this creates.

We must make this clear. Living together is not without its tensions; we know that. That is why I believe that integrating people and granting them citizenship does not mean ignoring the problems and challenges that lie ahead. It means recognising them, tackling them and resolving them.

Spain has done this before. This happened when industrial hubs, for example, welcomed workers from every corner of the country. Including, incidentally, from the autonomous community I referred to earlier: Extremadura. When millions of Spaniards left the countryside to settle in the suburbs of many cities, including here in Madrid. And when, at the start of this century, we became a major destination for immigrants from other countries.

Because if there is one thing that defines what it means to be Spanish, as a concept of citizenship - it is precisely this: our capacity to welcome, but also to integrate, and thus to move forward together.

That is why today we are launching this plan, spearheaded by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration - a plan that a dozen ministries have worked on for months, and whose efforts I also wish to acknowledge and thank from this podium - and to whom I would, of course, like to express my gratitude for their work. It has also benefited from contributions from civil society - a point already raised here - as well as from employers' associations and trade unions.

It will have an initial budget of over 500 million euros for the first year, an amount that will evolve based on needs and the progressive rollout

of the measures we will be implementing.

We are not presenting a statement of intent. As I said earlier, this plan has a budget of 500 million euros. We are presenting four key pillars, 16 measures, and 10 objectives to be achieved by 2030. Because humanity without management is left speechless, and management without humanity clearly loses its purpose.

What is the first pillar? The first pillar is based on integration through orderly and regular migration flows. This requires us to consider two issues. The first is how people arrive in our country. And the second is how we treat the people who are already amongst us. That is why the first step in the plan is regularisation itself: the recognition of the rights and responsibilities of the migrants living amongst us. The more than one million applications submitted, Minister, demonstrate just how necessary this recognition of rights and responsibilities was. Because behind every application there is a person who is already living amongst us, who wants to be part of our society with all their rights - and, I repeat, with all their responsibilities.

Many of the challenges associated with migration - which we see in so many other parts of the world - stem precisely from what I might call "administrative exclusion." This exclusion prevents people from working legally and, consequently, from developing their talents - as I mentioned earlier - contributing fully to the welfare state, and exercising their rights and obligations. Exclusion, therefore, protects no one. It protects neither the individuals who suffer it nor the society that fails to acknowledge it. It does not grant 'national priority' to anyone. Exclusion serves only to make new arrivals more vulnerable and the task facing the society that welcomes them more difficult. The fact is, integration is impossible without legal status.

However, it must also be said that a responsible policy cannot simply react once people have already arrived. It must also offer alternatives before they embark on that journey. That is why we will be launching a labour mobility strategy to open up legal, safe and orderly channels to meet the needs of our productive sector and our businesses, and thereby facilitate integration from day one.

The best integration also begins before crossing the border - with a contract, a legal status and a plan for the future. And all of this, of course, requires an administration capable of responding. For this reason, I would also like to announce that, as part of this integration plan, we are initiating the process to create a state-level agency - a national agency for Human Mobility. This agency will consolidate functions and resources that are currently, and unfortunately, fragmented, enabling management that is far simpler, more coordinated, and, consequently, more effective. It will maintain separate procedures for international protection and residency, thereby preserving security and border control competencies. The result will be greater efficiency, cooperation and synergy within the General State Administration; less uncertainty for individuals; and enhanced security and protection for everyone.

The second pillar recognises work as the main tool for inclusion, personal autonomy and social cohesion. There can be no full integration without autonomy, and no autonomy without opportunities. A job, of course, provides a salary, but it also does something very important that contributes to the cohesion of our societies: it offers stability, a sense of belonging and a future.

We will therefore expand the opportunities available to both the migrant population and the local population in the most diverse areas, so that they too can benefit from these employment opportunities. With an investment of more than 35 million euros to facilitate entry into sectors with high demand, such as construction, social services and the hospitality industry. And we will support entrepreneurship and boost opportunities in rural areas. We will also be launching an exceptional vocational training programme, with an investment of over 150 million euros and offering more than 100,000 places on flexible training programmes linked to the labour market, which will therefore recognise the skills that many people already possess and guide them towards the needs of our economy. We are not, therefore, talking about importing labour; what we are doing is bringing talented people - who have rights and their own aspirations - into the workforce, thereby harnessing their potential for the benefit of the entire country.

The third pillar of the Plan centres on one idea: integration as a mutual commitment. Ultimately, I believe this gives meaning not only to the aspect of rights but also to that of duties or responsibilities; for Spanish society - and, of course, its government - bears the responsibility of upholding the values and the legislative framework we have democratically established over more than forty years of democracy.

Spanish society must therefore, of course, guarantee equality of treatment, combat discrimination and provide opportunities. In turn, those who arrive must respect our laws, learn our official languages and uphold the democratic values that define us. For integration is not merely a matter of living in a specific region, town or neighbourhood; it is about becoming part of a community - and being part of that community requires shared rules that we have established, I repeat, democratically. And in Spain, those rules are clear: democratic values, equality between men and women, the rights and freedoms of LGBTI people, freedom of expression, a secular state, and respect for the law, whether you were born in Amurrio or in Dakar. They are not, therefore, conditions for some and privileges for others; they are the rules that apply to everyone.

It is clear that it is not enough simply to call for integration; we must make it possible, and to that end we need the cooperation of all levels of government, from those with specific powers - such as local authorities and regional governments - to, of course, the Government of Spain. That is why the General State Administration will allocate nearly 30 million euros to programmes that strengthen the learning of co-official languages and foster knowledge of our laws, our constitutional framework and our values. We will also fund community integration programmes to improve coexistence and, consequently, social cohesion in our neighbourhoods and cities.

And, furthermore, we will tackle what is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common, but which we - and I am looking at Fernando Grande-Marlaska, as Minister for Home Affairs - are, of course, combating with the support and partnership of a great many people, including those from civil society: hate speech; whilst also improving support for the victims of such discrimination, because inclusion clearly also means safeguarding peaceful coexistence for everyone.

The fourth and final pillar has a very clear objective: to make citizenship a reality, because rights and freedoms only truly exist when they can be exercised. And that requires removing the barriers - whether cultural, social or administrative - that still prevent many people, both migrants and locals, from accessing public services on equal terms and with equal opportunities. In this regard, the plan will allocate more than 200 million euros to strengthening public services and, consequently, ensuring equality of opportunities. How will we do this? We will do so by fostering educational success and combating school segregation - placing special emphasis on reinforcing language learning from an early age - as well as by taking action against discrimination in access to housing and guaranteeing effective access to the National Health System throughout the country.

In short, my friends, this is our model of integration - and therefore of citizenship and of our country. Order and regularity, decent work and a framework for coexistence - which I would describe as clear - based on effective access to rights and obligations. The final pillar of a sensible, fair and responsible migration policy is precisely that: integration polic

I would like to conclude this speech with a thought. Look, over the past few months we have been carrying out what I believe to be a highly successful initiative: this regularisation process. A key step towards bringing a reality in our country out of the shadows - a reality involving hundreds of thousands of people living among us. What the Integration Plan does is turn that initial step into a life project: one involving employment, education, rights, duties and shared rules for coexistence.

This plan represents a commitment to integration - not just on the part of the Government, I would say, but of the State as a whole. But there is one thing that no plan, no law and no government can replace, and that is the attitude - the attitude of Spanish society. And I have very little doubt about this, because if there is one issue where a vast gulf exists between the noise of social media - or the political rhetoric we are, unfortunately, hearing - and everyday reality, it is precisely this one. Spain's reality is not defined by messages of hate - even though they clearly spread across social media; the reality is the neighbour who lends a hand (as we saw so clearly during the pandemic), the colleague who mentors, the teacher who guides, and the neighbourhood that welcomes anyone in need. That is the real Spain, that is the true Spain; that is the country we are and will continue to be, no matter how much some may be determined to turn back the clock on history. Because, to build a cohesive society, we obviously need good laws and good policies, but above all we need good people - and, fortunately, Spain has plenty of those.

That is all, thank you very much.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)