IOM Director General Amy Pope met with senior Spanish officials in Madrid to discuss migration governance, labor mobility and international cooperation. Spain is turning to managing migration through regular pathways and integration, as broader European debates on migration policy continue.
Senior Spanish officials met this week with the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) during a two-day visit to Madrid focused on migration policy and international cooperation.
IOM Director General Amy Pope held talks with several members of the Spanish government, including Migration Minister Elma Saiz, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno. She also met with Antón Leis, head of Spain’s development cooperation agency.
The meetings centered on migration governance, labor mobility and coordination between Spain and international partners. Discussions also addressed issues such as migrant resettlement, diaspora engagement and the management of migration routes along Spain’s coastlines.
"What Spain is demonstrating matters beyond its borders," said Pope. "As Europe debates how to manage migration, Spain is showing that legal pathways, labor market integration, and human dignity are not competing priorities, they are the same priority. IOM stands ready to help translate this experience into frameworks that other countries and regions can learn from."
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Spain looks to regular pathways as labor market needs rise
Spain has been a vital entry point for migrants into Europe, and officials have increasingly emphasised the role of regulated migration pathways and labor market integration in responding to workforce needs while managing arrivals.
"Well-managed labor mobility can help respond to labor market needs, support economic growth, and create opportunities for migrants and host communities alike," IOM said in a statement on Thursday (March 19). Pope also signalled IOM's support for Spain’s National Resettlement Program.
According to the IOM, the talks also touched on the broader role of international cooperation in addressing migration pressures. Both sides said there is a need for coordination across countries of origin, transit and destination.
The visit comes as European governments continue to debate migration policy, with increasing attention on balancing border management, economic needs and humanitarian considerations.