Pedro Sánchez announces that the new Integration and Citizenship Plan is being launched to capitalise on the opportunities and address the challenges posed by migration

The Plan, which has been drawn up by around ten ministries and incorporates input from civil society and social dialogue, is being launched with a budget of over 500 million euros in its first year and comprises four main pillars, 16 measures and 10 objectives for 2030.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech at the presentation of the Integration and Citizenship Plan (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, today announced that the new Integration and Citizenship Plan is being launched with a budget of 500 million euros in its first year, in order to capitalise on the opportunities and respond to the challenges posed by migration, managing it in a "fair, orderly and intelligent manner." The plan includes 16 measures to promote integration and inclusion, decent work, order, regularisation, rights, obligations and rules of coexistence, including the regularisation process, the creation of a future State Agency for Human Mobility, employment in sectors with high demand, an exceptional provision of vocational training and the strengthening of public services, amongst other measures.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, together with the Second Vice-President and Minister for Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, and other members of the Cabinet, during the presentation of the plan | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Pedro Sánchez made this announcement during the opening of the event to launch the Integration and Citizenship Plan, alongside the government campaign 'Where do they come from? They've just arrived to build a life here', from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. The event, organised at the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM) and brought to a close by the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, was attended by the Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz; the Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande Marlaska; the Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu; the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres; the Minister for Health, Mónica García; the Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo; and the Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, Óscar López. Also taking part in a round-table discussion were the State Secretariat for Migration, Pilar Cancela; the President of the CEOE, Antonio Garamendi; the President of Cepyme, Ángela de Miguel; and the General Secretaries of CCOO, Unai Sordo, and UGT, Pepe Álvarez.

"The State's commitment to integration"

The President of the Government of Spain has stated that the regularisation process, which has been carried out "successfully" over recent months, constitutes "a key step towards bringing hundreds of thousands of people who live amongst us out of invisibility." In this regard, he explained that the Integration Plan, promoted by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, "turns that first step into a life project: one that includes employment, education, rights, responsibilities and shared rules for living together". "This Plan represents the State's commitment to integration, but there is one thing that no plan, no law and no government can replace: the attitude of Spanish society," he added. At the start of his speech, he pointed out that, without immigration, Spain would lose 19% of its GDP by 2050 and 22% by 2075, which would mean "90,000 bars with their shutters down. 50,000 primary and secondary school classrooms without pupils and the disappearance of 220,000 farms - one in three."

He has therefore defended the Executive's approach, which involves "managing the phenomenon to capitalise on its opportunities and respond to its challenges" out of humanity, because we know what it means to emigrate; we do so out of a sense of responsibility, because it is the right thing to do, and we do it out of wisdom, because, in an ageing country, immigration helps to meet labour needs, sustains the welfare state and keeps many regions alive." He also pointed out that almost half of GDP growth since 2022 can be attributed to the arrival of migrants. "When Spain embraces diversity, Spain grows and progresses," he emphasised. This is done, he said, without compromising border controls, given that, so far this year, irregular arrivals have fallen by a third compared with the same period in 2025, and by 70% in the Canary Islands.

Integration and Citizenship Plan

In this context, Pedro Sánchez announced that the Integration and Citizenship Plan is Spain's proposal for managing migration in an "orderly, fair and smart" manner, with the aim of "improving the lives of those who arrive and also of those of us who welcome them, to capitalise on the opportunities that migration brings and to respond to the challenges that all social change generates," given that "coexistence is not without its tensions." Sánchez spoke of the migration experiences of Spaniards and their ability to integrate: "If there is one thing that defines what it means to be Spanish, it is precisely this: our ability to welcome, integrate and move forward together." The Plan, which has been developed over several months by around ten ministries and has drawn on contributions from civil society and social dialogue, will have an initial budget of over 500 million euros in the first year, which "will evolve in line with needs and the gradual roll-out of the measures." Furthermore, the plan comprises four main pillars, 16 measures and 10 targets for 2030.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks at the presentation of the Integration and Citizenship Plan | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Management of migration flows and legal status as the basis for integration

The first pillar identifies the management of migration flows and legal status as the foundation of integration, said Pedro Sánchez, who pointed out that this "requires us to consider two issues: how people arrive in our country, and how we deal with those who are already here." The first measure of the Plan is therefore the regularisation of migrants themselves, for which more than a million applications have been received. "Exclusion does not protect anyone. It does not grant 'national priority' to anyone. Exclusion only makes new arrivals more vulnerable and the State's task more difficult; after all, integration is not possible without legal status." He went on to point out that "a responsible policy cannot simply take action once people are already here", but "must also offer alternatives before they set out on their journey".

The Executive will therefore launch a Labour Mobility Strategy to "establish legal, safe and orderly channels, meet the needs of the economy and facilitate integration from day one." To further progress in managing migration flows, he announced the creation of a future State Agency for Human Mobility, which will bring together "functions and resources that are currently scattered, in order to provide simpler, more coordinated and more effective management." Specifically, it will maintain separate procedures for international protection and residence, and will preserve responsibilities for security and border checks. "More order for the State. Less uncertainty for people. Greater safety and security for everyone," he said.

Employment: sectors with high demand and 100,000 training places

The second pillar recognises work as the main means of promoting inclusion, personal autonomy and social cohesion. As a result, the Government will expand "opportunities for the migrant population and the local population in the most diverse regions." An investment of over 35 million has been allocated to facilitate entry into sectors with high demand, such as construction, the hospitality industry and care, to support entrepreneurship and to boost opportunities in rural areas. A special vocational training programme will also be launched, with an investment of over 150 million euros and more than 100,000 places on flexible training courses linked to the labour market, which "recognises the skills that many people already possess and channels them towards the needs of our economy," he said, with the aim of "bringing in talented people with rights and their own plans, and putting all of this at the service of our country."

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo y Pool Sagrada Familia

Integration: learning co-official languages, and norms and values

The third pillar of the Plan centres on one idea: integration is a mutual commitment. On this point, Sánchez emphasised that "Spanish society must guarantee equality of treatment, combat discrimination and provide opportunities, and those who arrive must respect our laws, learn our official languages and share the democratic values that define us". In this regard, he emphasised that "integration is not just about living in a particular area," but about "being part of that community, and every community needs shared rules." In Spain, these principles are clear: democratic values, equality between men and women, the rights of LGBTI+ people, freedom of expression, the secular nature of the State and respect for the law. Whether you were born in Amurrio or in Dakar. These are not conditions for some and privileges for others. These are the rules for everyone," he added.

He therefore announced funding of almost 30 million euros for programmes designed to strengthen the learning of co-official languages and knowledge of norms and values, as well as community integration programmes aimed at improving social cohesion. In addition, efforts to combat hate speech will be stepped up and support for victims of discrimination will be improved.

Making citizenship a reality: strengthening public services

The chief executive has explained that the fourth and final pillar has a very clear objective: to ensure that citizenship is a reality, which, he said, involves removing administrative, social and cultural barriers. The Plan will allocate more than 200 million euros to strengthen public services and ensure equality of opportunities, "promoting educational success and combating school segregation, with a particular focus on strengthening language learning from an early age, but also by tackling discrimination in access to housing and ensuring effective access to the National Health Service throughout the country," he added. "This is our model for integration and citizenship: order and regularity. Decent work. And a clear framework for coexistence based on effective access to rights and also to obligations. The final pillar of a sensible, fair and responsible migration policy," added Pedro Sánchez. "The reality of this country is not hate speech; the reality is the neighbour who lends a helping hand, the classmate who teaches, the teacher who supports, and the neighbourhood that welcomes anyone in need." "This is the real Spain. That is the country we are and will continue to be," he concluded.

Non official translation

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