Politics · Spain · 3 hrs ago
Denmark asks EU to examine Spain’s plan to legalize migrants
Denmark’s prime minister asked the European Commission to examine Spain’s migrant regularization plan at an EU summit in Brussels.
Spain plans to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, a decision led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
Denmark, Italy, the Czech Republic and Austria criticized the plan, arguing it runs against the EU’s tougher approach to irregular migration.
Some leaders say it could encourage more people to migrate, but the EU migration commissioner has rejected a link between the plan and the recent crisis in Ceuta.
The criticism comes as EU figures show illegal border crossings fell 55% over two years, reaching their lowest level since 2021.
Denmark, Italy and Poland want changes to the summit’s conclusions calling for more work to reduce factors that might encourage irregular migration.
The conclusions need unanimous agreement, so Spain can block that section; EU leaders were also due to discuss migration policy at the summit.
Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, asked the European Commission to examine Spain’s plan to legalise undocumented migrants.
Frederiksen said the plan runs counter to the migration policy supported by a large majority in Europe.
Several EU leaders, including Giorgia Meloni of Italy, criticised the Spanish government’s policy at a European summit on Friday.
Spain’s plan could grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants.
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, defended his government’s approach as responsible, supportive and respectful of human rights.
- Who
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asked the European Commission to examine Spain’s plan. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the policy.
- What
- Denmark called for EU scrutiny of Spain’s plan to legalise undocumented migrants, which several other leaders criticised.
- When
- Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Where
- At the European summit in Brussels.
- Why
- Frederiksen said Spain’s approach runs counter to the migration policy supported by a large majority in Europe.
Spanish government
Critics of Spain’s plan
Policy
Spanish government
Sánchez defended his government’s approach as responsible, supportive and respectful of human rights.
Critics of Spain’s plan
Frederiksen and other leaders argued that legalising undocumented migrants runs counter to the EU’s prevailing migration policy.
Potential effects
Spanish government
Sánchez defended the policy, while the sources do not report him addressing claims that it could encourage migration.
Critics of Spain’s plan
Critics said the policy could create a “pull effect” and have consequences for other member states.
Spain’s government decided to grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants.
Around 80,000 people crossed Ceuta’s borders in two days, according to El País English.
Italy introduced temporary restrictions on connections with Spain, according to La Vanguardia.
Frederiksen asked the European Commission to examine Spain’s policy as EU leaders met in Brussels.
- Spanish plan
- Legal status for potentially hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants
- Danish prime minister
- Mette Frederiksen
- European Commission request
- Examine Spain’s migration policy
- Migration breakfast
- 18 EU member states and the European Commission
- Ceuta border crossings
- Around 80,000 people in two days in late July
- EU border crossings
- Illegal crossings fell 55% in two years, according to Ursula von der Leyen’s letter
6 sources
Denmark asks EU to ‘examine’ Spain’s plan to legalize migrants
Los líderes antiinmigración señalan a Sánchez por la regularización en la cumbre europea
Meloni y Frederiksen lideran un nuevo ataque a Sánchez por la regularización masiva: "Algunos son capaces de reemplazar a la población con inmigrantes sólo para seguir en el Gobierno"
Frederiksen quiere que Bruselas “examine” la regularización de migrantes de España
What people are saying
I have asked the European Commission to examine what happens when a country does almost the exact opposite of what the rest of us are doing
I believe this runs counter to the migration policy supported by a large majority in Europe today.
We see what is happening in Spain, how some politicians are capable of population replacement just to stay in their jobs and in government
to manage migration responsibly, in solidarity, and in accordance with respect for human rights