Border control, residence permits and CIE: PSOE and Junts close the agreement on immigration
The parties seal a bill that delegates powers to the Generalitat with the intention of presenting it imminently
BarcelonaLast week Together withdrew the petition for Pedro Sánchez to submit to a vote of confidence at the request of the international mediator. The idea was that there would soon be results in the negotiations opened with the Spanish government. And this moment has arrived: according to several sources consulted by ARA, the Junta members have closed a pact with the Socialists on the delegation of immigration powers to the Generalitat de Catalunya, one of the commitments pending for more than a year. Their intention is to announce it imminently and present the small print that same week. It could be this Tuesday itself. "It is practically closed" or "the discussion is already underway on how to present it" are some of the answers that several senior leaders of the Junts leadership give when asked about the agreement. And what does the Spanish government respond? "It is a matter of hours," say socialist sources.
"It will be one of the most important transfers since the creation of the Mossos," predicts one of the leaders consulted, who expresses satisfaction with the understanding from the Junts bench. However, the details of the agreement are kept under lock and key and there are those who still speak of loose ends to be tied up, despite the fact that all sources consider the negotiation between the PSOE and Junts to be over after many tugs of war. For now, neither the executive nor the permanent committee of the Junts party have had access to the wording of the regulations, which would be based on a delegation of powers to the Generalitat through article 150.2 of the Constitution, but several sources consulted indicate that the pact would include the following points:
Border control
The Mossos would have a presence in ports and airports
The major stumbling block in the negotiations has been border control, which Junts demanded for the Mossos d'Esquadra. Inspired by the Bavarian model (Germany), In this state, where the state has its own border guard, the negotiators have agreed to the presence of the Mossos d'Esquadra in ports and airports, as well as delegating powers to them in matters of border control in coordination with the state security forces and bodies.
Permissions
The Generalitat would manage residence applications
For now, the Generalitat has powers, according to the Statute, to carry out procedures regarding work permits in Catalonia. However, according to the sources consulted, the organic law agreed between Junts and the PSOE would be a step forward for the Generalitat, which would become the reference administration for both managing temporary and long-term residence permits. Of course, applying state legislation on this matter.
Hiring at source
The Government could set priorities according to needs
One of the things provided for in the Statute and until now it had not been developed is that the Generalitat participates in decisions of importance in matters of migration and regulation of flows. Well, according to sources, the new bill of the PSOE and Junts would include the possibility of the Generalitat participating in the planning of this type of jobs and establishing priorities based on the needs of the Catalan labour market.
NIEs and expulsions
It has been one of the hot points of the negotiation
Another of the hot points of the negotiations has been the possibility that the Catalan government will process expulsions for non-compliance with the immigration law. While waiting for the fine print, the sources consulted assure that the Generalitat will have powers in this regard, but they will wait for the announcement of the agreement to make them public. The Catalan government would also participate in the issuance of the NIE.
Management of CIEs
The Generalitat will have control of these entities
Another demand from Junts during the negotiations has been the transfer of the management of the foreign detention centres (CIE), opening the door to even closing them – a historic demand from Catalonia that has generated consensus – if the Generalitat obtained their comprehensive management. Well, according to the sources consulted, this management would have finally been included in the agreement between Junts and the PSOE, so that from the entry into force of the new law the CIEs would depend on the Catalan government, pending official confirmation.
