About the city

Valencia

Developing an ambitious approach to migration from scratch

Key Takeaways

  • 1

    The creation of the first ever Department for Migration in Valencia in 2015 has enabled strong political support for and coordination of migration issues.

  • 2

    Migrants, migrant associations, and NGOs are not just passive “beneficiaries”, but are involved as key, active stakeholders thanks to newly created participation structures.

  • 3

    The new administration has established multi-level and multi-stakeholder cooperation between the regional government, local authorities and civil society organisations.

What is unique about the city?

From nought to sixty: With a progressive government elected in 2015, Valencia has adopted an ambitious approach to developing a migration policy from scratch. The city has simplified bureaucratic procedures and facilitated the participation of civil society organisations and migrants in policy processes. It is not just individual policy measures that are inspiring – the overall approach is impressive. Due to a lack of initiative from the previous conservative government there was no real migration policy before 2015. However, in May 2023, the progressive government was replaced at both municipal and regional level. At the regional level, a coalition of the conservative PP together with the right-wing populist Vox has been governing since then, which is likely to have a negative impact on the solidarity-based migration policy.

What is the focus of local migration policies?

Reinventing the municipal administration: Three elements characterise Valencia's approach to migration:

  1. Following decades of conservative local politics (1991-2015), the progressive city government has created the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion. For the first time, it has drafted a ‘migration portfolio’ aimed at creating a single entry point into the complex bureaucratic processes relating to migration and inclusion. The programme has also increased the social visibility of and political support for migration.

  2. A new participation structure was created in 2016 – the Local Council on Immigration and Interculturality – conceived as an advisory and representative body that also incorporates the voices of migrants into the policymaking process.

  3. A new multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach was adopted, enhancing cooperation between the regional government, the city of Valencia, civil society organisations and NGOs. The programme brings together the voices of multiple actors and calls on the national government to grant more powers and provide more resources at the local level for the more effective management of migration-related issues.

What can other actors learn from it?

Involving all stakeholders in policy processes: Valencia started taking a multi-level approach to migration. There was a constant and fluid cooperation between the regional government (Generalitat Valenciana) and the local level. The city actively participates in regional programmes, projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening local voices in all aspects of migration management. Civil society organisations are increasingly involved as key actors in the design and implementation of migration policies. Immigrants are actively involved at the local level through the Local Council on Immigration and Interculturality. At the regional level, they are involved through the Mixed Commission in the development of the Valencian Strategy on Migration 2021-2026.

Political activities and advocacy beyond the city level?

Valencia’s official nomination as a “Refuge City” in 2015 involved a visit by the regional Vice-President and the minister for Equality and Inclusive Policies to refugee shelters. The strong support of refugees by civil society – from numerous NGOs and activists, to individual families offering houses at the peak of the refugee crisis in 2015, and a community of more than 8,000 people – are evidence of the city’s stance vis-à-vis refugees and migration. Together with other progressive cities like Barcelona and Madrid (2015-2019), Valencia has become one of the key actors opposing restrictive Spain’s national migration policies. Together, these cities have made multiple requests of the national government, calling for more resources and powers to deal with the situation on a local level.

Member of the following networks

Download the full city report

The city report contains more information about the city’s migration and inclusion policies and selected local approaches. Report from 2021, updated in 2023.

Download Report