Spain's Migrant Regularization Plan: Debunking French Disinformation

The Spanish government's initiative to regularize the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants residing in Spain has ignited a significant debate, particularly in France, where it has been met with a wave of misinformation. The plan, spearheaded by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, aims to provide a pathway to legal residency and work permits for individuals who have been in Spain for at least five months, possess a clean criminal record, and applied for a renewable work visa before June 30th. This measure, while offering a lifeline to many, has been distorted by certain French political figures, notably Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National.

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The regularized migrants will be able to travel freely in France and even settle there, attracted by the generosity of our social system, which is open without conditions.

Bardella's claims that these individuals could freely circulate, settle, and access French social benefits are demonstrably false. While Spain's membership in the Schengen area allows for travel within the zone, it is strictly limited to 90 days within a 180-day period. Crucially, these regularized migrants cannot establish permanent residency, work legally, or claim social welfare in other Schengen countries, including France. As stated by Monique Pariat, a migration policy advisor at the Jacques Delors Institute, "Third-country nationals in the EU cannot settle in a country unless the authorities authorize them." France is unlikely to grant visas to individuals already holding a one-year work permit in Spain.

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Third-country nationals in the EU cannot settle in a country unless the authorities authorize them.

Furthermore, the assertion that these migrants could access the French social security system is a complete fabrication. Their coverage will be under the Spanish social security system, meaning any medical care will either be covered by Spain or paid for out-of-pocket. The notion of them flocking to France for social benefits is thus baseless. This stark contrast between the reality of the Spanish plan and the inflammatory rhetoric used in France highlights a concerning trend of political manipulation of migration issues. From our perspective at El Watan, it is vital to counter such disinformation with factual reporting, emphasizing the specific legal frameworks governing migration within the EU and the distinct national social security systems.

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It is very unlikely that France will offer them a visa, when they have a one-year work permit in Spain.