Spain: "Plan for Social Integration"
01 January 1995
Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzales alluded to the very recent change in Spain from being a country of emigration to one of immigration. Addressing the European Campaign of Youth Against Racism he said: "Treat the immigrants in the way you would have liked to be treated when you were emigrants". However, his words are in contradiction to Spanish legislation on Aliens which impedes the legal equality of immigrants and uses concepts which criminalise migrants.
The Plan for Social Integration of Immigrants approved on 2 December by the Spanish Cabinet only refers to "legal" immigrants not "illegal" immigrants. The Plan talks of "the fight against illegal employment". Migrant organisations say that before the Plan can be taken seriously the Law on Aliens needs to be changed. This limits residence permits to one year, is dependent on having a work contract, and is highly bureaucratic if the migrant seeks to "legalise" their status.
The Plan also creates two new bodies - the "Observatory of Immigration" to measure the flow of migrants into Spain, and the "Forum of Immigrants" with government, NGOs and migrant organisations to work on "integrating" migrants.
Kontrola Kontrolpean, Donostia, Euskadi (Spain).