Co-responsibility between countries of origin, transit and destination: Lessons from Spain’s experience with migration

Abstract

This article gives an overview of Spain’s experience of regular and irregular migration in the past and of the subsequent development of the EU’s framework for external migration policies. It argues for a realistic rather than ideological approach that involves co-responsibility between countries of origin, transit and destination, in compliance with human rights standards. Co-responsibility means a system in which migrants’ countries of origin, transit and destination share the burden of dealing with both regular and irregular migration whenever possible. Such a system is sometimes characterised by long and difficult discussions and negotiations to define common goals and balance interests in the spirit of a partnership of equals. This article first tackles immigration in Spain, with an emphasis on the 2006 Spanish refugee crisis or the ‘Cayucos crisis’. It then looks at EU migration policy, before recommending ways of improving it.