For a transfer of competences in immigration with consensus and guarantees

Lately, the migration issue has occupied front pages in the media. Specifically, because of the agreement between the Spanish Socialist Party and Junts per Catalunya regarding the transfer of competences to Catalonia. From the Fundació ACSAR, we regret that this agreement has not been accompanied by a transparent political and social debate with Catalan society to generate consensus. This situation has allowed for a negative instrumentalization of the migration issue and a false and misplaced debate that does not help move towards inclusion or the construction of a cohesive society.

The Fundació ACSAR wishes to make a clarification in its positioning:

• From ACSAR, we have always called for the transfer of competences to Catalonia in matters of immigration as provided in the Statute of Catalonia of 2006, in addition to the reactivation of the bilateral competence commissions between the State and Catalonia.
• It is necessary to take a step forward towards the consolidation — with more resources — of the exclusive competences of the Catalan government in matters of reception and inclusion. Furthermore, more exclusive competences must be assumed in the field related to employment, through the SOC; and the participation of social and economic agents, such as unions and employers’ associations. Progress must be made both in determining the need for labor in different sectors, and in extending the competence that grants initial work authorizations, expanding it to their renewals. We must continue, as European directives indicate, towards the unification of work authorizations and residence permits into a single permit under the exclusive competence of the Government of Catalonia.
• We believe that focusing the debate on competences on border control and the management of internment and expulsion centers is a step backwards that limits the migration issue to security and not to policies of inclusion, reception, and accommodation based on equality and citizenship. From ACSAR, we want to reiterate our position in favor of the closure of internment centers (CIEs). We believe that a person who has not committed any crime can never be deprived of their liberty.
• Inclusion and accommodation are a process, not automatic or mechanical facts. Good reception policy is needed that includes the knowledge and use of the Catalan language, not only for immigration but for the entire population residing continuously in Catalonia. Means and resources are needed, as well as awareness about the importance of knowledge of Catalan as a factor of social mobility and equality. The learning of Catalan cannot be reduced to restrictive and threatening measures conditioned on the granting or not of a residence permit, especially for recently arrived people.
• The transfer of competences must bring an improvement in public services, more agility in procedures and their resolution. For this, more economic, technical, and human resources are needed.
• The entire migration issue must be a priority on the political agenda of governments. This must be articulated through an open debate with society, including parties, unions, employers' associations, social entities, immigrant organizations, universities, experts, etc. The objective must be to advance in policies of consensus and social cohesion.
• From ACSAR, we once again call for the need to establish the Catalan Migration Agency approved in the National Pact and in the Reception Law more than 15 years ago.