Zaragoza
A new vision of urban citizenship and diversity
Key Takeaways
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Already established migrant organisations and civil society structures like “casa de las culturas'' have been integrated into municipal solidarity policies in order to make them longer-lasting.
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Communal social workers supporting migrants locally have been integral to the city’s policy measures.
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The city has sought to include all migrant and ethnic minority groups – including those who have lived in the city for many years – in its solidarity politics.
What is unique about the city?
Inclusion despite high levels of debt: Although Zaragoza, the fifth largest city in Spain, ranks among the most heavily indebted municipalities in the country, it has implemented a series of successful and welcoming inclusion policies since 2015. The measures are underpinned by a new idea of a diverse and intercultural urban citizenship.
What is the focus of local migration policies?
Diversity as a resource: The municipal measures insist on cultural and social inclusion as a task to be taken on by both newcomers and established residents, and frame diversity not as a problem, but as a resource. The idea of urban citizenship is also central to Zaragoza‘s solidarity politics, taking into account as it does two particularities of the city’s population: its long-established but marginalised Roma population, and growing number of migrants from Latin America.
What are the key factors in the city’s migration policy?
A municipal government and civil society collaborating: The strong collaboration between the municipal government and local civil society, especially from 2015-2019, enabled a comprehensive set of welcoming policies to be created. These initiatives, such as the Urban Citizenship programme, were designed using participatory processes with all relevant local stakeholders involved right from the start.
Political activities and advocacy beyond the city level
Zaragoza is a member of the Spanish "Intercultural Cities" programme, which advocates for diversity and a plural understanding of identity in its member cities. Over the last few years, municipal movements have been particularly influential in Zaragoza, as its membership in the “Network of Municipalities for Refugee Reception” (Red de Municipios de Acogida de Refugiados / RMAR) proves. Zaragoza also invests a large portion – in comparison with other Spanish cities – of its budget for international cooperation. Since 2015, 0.5% of the annual municipal budget has been dedicated to specific projects or to general development aid in areas where refugees come from or transit through.
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“I am not only thinking about the concrete citizens, but also about the citizenship. I think Zaragoza should be a welcoming and warm city, both for those who have just arrived and for those who were born here and have lived here for 40 years.”
Trinidad Lacarra, social worker, Casa de las Culturas
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.
Inspiring Approaches
“Casa de las culturas y la solidaridad” – Involving migrants in local inclusion policies
Welcoming and social inclusion
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Social Rights
“Zaragoza, ciudad acogedora” – A community-based reception for new arrivals
Housing
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Labour market
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Social Rights
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Welcoming and social inclusion
Zaragoza’s Urban Citizenship Programme
Welcoming and social inclusion