Spain gives residency to 500,000 migrants, prompting EU policy debate

Spain's government announced a decree that will grant regular residency and work permits to 500,000 migrants who have lived in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented the measure as a pragmatic solution to integration and labour‑market needs.

The initiative follows Spain's 2005 large‑scale regularisation, which previously raised migrant employment rates and tax revenues. Analysts note that Spain's approach contrasts with more restrictive migration policies adopted by many EU states, including Germany, where recent reforms have tightened asylum rules. German commentators cite the Spanish decree as a possible model for a humane and economically beneficial migration strategy.