The challenge of immigration in Catalonia

The strong migratory flows experienced by most developed Western countries are directly impacting their societies. This impact is not low-intensity; on the contrary, it is provoking profound social movements that are resulting in significant changes to their political landscapes. The electoral growth of radical right-wing parties, which is spreading across many European countries, is the most evident, and at the same time, most heartbreaking, evidence of this.

Catalonia is not immune to this phenomenon. We have one of the lowest birth rates in Europe and one of the highest life expectancies on the European continent. To top it all off, we must consider that our activity rate, which measures how many people of working age are active, is also below the European average. In simple terms, we have fewer children, we live longer, and we are less likely to be employed. The combination of all this, plus an economic structure that demands many people earn rather low wages, means that our exposure to migratory flows is even higher than that of many of our neighbors.

Starting from the premise that demographic and cultural trends have long-term inertias that are difficult to change, and that, therefore, the immigration phenomenon is here to stay, we as a country need a well-crafted, realistic, and calm discourse on how to address this challenge. In my opinion, this discourse should rest on five pillars, which we could outline as follows:

1. Catalonia is a country of immigrants. You may like it more or less, but we are what we are. In 120 years, that is, in four generations, we have gone from 2 million to 8 million inhabitants. This enormous growth is mainly due to immigration. For decades, Spanish; today, mainly African and Latin American. If we want to face the migration challenge, and the impact it generates, we must start from the real country and not from an imaginary one that is not ours.

2. The fact that we are a country of immigrants does not mean that our country has room for everyone. We cannot become an uncontrolled sieve. Just as immigration should not be demonized, neither should it be denied that it causes tensions, and not minor ones. Tensions over identity, over shared cultural values, and over all kinds of public services. These tensions, which fortunately do not undermine coexistence, are seen every day in the streets and squares of many of our cities. The lack of our own state and chronic underfunding exacerbates the problem and complicates the solution. Therefore, if we cannot properly manage the Catalonia of 8 million, we must be very careful with any policy or discourse that pushes us toward population increases that we cannot stomach without jeopardizing social cohesion and even the foundations of our democracy.

3. A clear strategy is needed to control and direct immigration from the source. Just as for decades, and with great success, efforts have been made to attract investment, attract tourists, and promote exports, a minimum equivalent effort is needed to channel the immigration that we will continue to need to some extent. I know we do not have the government instruments to carry out the necessary actions, but neither did we have them for the rest of the policies, and we have done well.

4. Just as we need to be demanding and effective in controlling the flow of people who want to come to our country, we must also be clear in understanding that when we talk about immigrants, we are talking about people. We must combat the discourses that dehumanize us as a society. We are not talking about commodities or objects, but about people like us. The great challenge is to channel immigration in a legal and orderly manner, but once among us, people coming from outside must be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic society like ours guarantees. There are rights that must be guaranteed immediately, in line with what human dignity means in advanced societies, and rights that must be consolidated over time.

5. Guaranteeing rights does not mean abandoning or relaxing obligations. If rights are for everyone, then duties are too. The discourses that prioritize rights over duties hurt society. Unfortunately, for years we have allowed ourselves to be dragged down by this imbalance, and that is how we are doing. If we truly appreciate the benefits of a democratic system, which translates into freedoms, rights, and human dignity, we must be aware of the value of duties, which guarantee civic coexistence and a sense of justice.

Catalonia has the full right to preserve and project its identity, its cultural values, and its language into the future. And it also has the right to maintain and improve its welfare state. Everything we have forged over centuries, or decades, we can offer to people who come from outside. But we must demand full respect for what we are and what we do not want to cease to be.