Spain’s National Security Council warns prejudice against immigrants could rise

THE attitude of Spanish people towards immigration continues to be more positive than elsewhere in Europe but there signs prejudice could be getting worse, a government agency has said.

Spain’s National Security Council said in an annual report that a strategy was needed to integrate immigrants into Spanish society.

That strategy should include plans to combat racism, discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, the report stated.

“Specific programmes and actions must be implemented to raise society’s awareness of the positive effects of immigration and the positive value of diversity, as well as to avoid and counteract xenophobic discourse,” the report stated.

If unemployment continues to remain above pre-recession levels despite an economic recovery then there could be a risk of nationalism and xenophobia rising, the report added.

The council also called for joint action with Morocco and Algeria to be stepped up to help stem the flow of irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean into Spain.

Human trafficking into Spain continues to be one of the “greatest threats” to national and international security, the report stated.