On immigration

Often in the face of all manner of criticism. 

The idea, for instance, that a country that receives migrants must clearly define its fundamental values and must require that the principles be assumed and respected by all, including immigrants. Or that everybody, both the newly-arrived and the natives of the country – in fact the country itself –, have certain rights and duties. Or that the best solution is not multiculturalism, which brings about a certain internal segregation and fragmentation of the country itself, but integration, that is, the gradual incorporation of migrants into the social, economic, political and cultural fabric, conserving what they wish to conserve of their own personality while accepting that they should combine it with the basic cultural and political elements of the host country. In other words, migrants must accept that the host country should be able to continue existing as a single people.   

That is, although its society may be highly diverse, a country must have a central pillar, an integrating element formed chiefly by the host country’s values and principles. 

In Catalonia this idea – which some in the fifties and an entire political movement in the seventies had already advocated – has been criticised many times. As well as in certain European circles. But now it has become a common  doctrine in Europe. 

Take the case of Germany, where there was no consensus on this issue. There were the supporters of integration and of “Leitkultur”, a central and constructive culture, that is, all-embracing. And there were the multiculturalists, who rejected all of this. 

Now Chancellor Merkel has called for an “Integrationsgipfel”, a “summit on integration”, with around 80 experts on immigration that are discussing the issue in depth. However, “das Früherene Multikultl”, as they term called the eamulticulturalism, have been left aside. They categorically demand that immigrants accept the country’s legal and constitutional principles and values, as well as learn the German language, which together with having a job is regarded as the key factor for integration and coexistence.   

It is interesting to observe that the SPD (the German Socialist party), traditionally more inclined to multiculturalism, now endorses this approach.  For instance, it accepts there must be a form of Leitkultur. It underscores the importance of the language issue. It speaks of the fundamental values and the rules that govern Germany. And while it speaks, for example, that it is essential to guarantee religious freedom, the equality of man and woman and the rights of minorities, it also sets clear limits, which no-one, regardless of their origin or religious creed, may transgress.  

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What is taking place in Germany is happening across Europe to a greater or lesser degree. The United Kingdom has also abandoned multiculturalism, in favour of integration policies. France is seeing how its policy not of integration, but of assimilation, which is something altogether different, is failing because it is excessively rigid and its social ladder does not work. Then there is the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. These countries have very stringent policies in place that require immigrants to learn the language of the country.   In certain aspects, Catalonia, which, many years ago, in difficult conditions and with little power, had to contend with massive waves of immigrants, can participate in any definition of immigration polices and in their application, because she has a proven capacity of integration, based on a profound respect for everyone, as is demonstrated by the good coexistence in Catalonia. And also because at the same time it has gone to great lengths to safeguard its primary identity, which is what has guaranteed its continuity as a collective, and because the social ladder has worked especially well -in the latter Catalonia has particularly excelled. In other words, Catalan society has offered many possibilities for social, economic, cultural and political promotion, unlike many other places in Europe. 

The values of Catalan society, its way of life and its concept of country have made this possible. Therefore it is paramount that we know how to conserve it.