Spain has seen a impressive increase in the number of refugees arriving with serious physical injuries and mental disorders, Monica Lopez, director of the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), said while presenting the organization’s annual report. Among new applicants, she said, more people arrive with amputations or wounds. Harsh journeys also leave applicants with illnesses, while drinking seawater and a lack of medical assistance cause other health problems.
CEAR warns that the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum could worsen the situation and is calling on the Spanish government not to implement measures the pact permits but does not require. These include creating a national list of “safe countries,” which human rights advocates say could lead to protection being denied to people genuinely in need of asylum. The European Economic and Social Committee has raised a related concern, saying it is “particularly concerned about the concept of ‘safe third country’ and the establishment of EU lists of safe countries of origin.” The committee’s position reflects the legal and policy debate over how such categories may affect individualized assessments. It does not establish that Spain has adopted such a list.
CEAR’s report says that in 2025 the number of asylum applications in Spain fell from 167,366 to 144,396, while 160,663 cases were processed, a record figure information from the organization. CEAR also puts the international protection recognition rate at 11%, compared with a European average of 34%. The basic countries of origin included Venezuela and Mali, with Peru also among them. Most applications were submitted in Madrid and Andalusia, with Catalonia also among the basic locations. These national figures come from CEAR’s annual report. EU monitoring provides separate procedural context: the European Commission says data on applications handled under the new pact’s border and accelerated procedures will first become available in 2026. The pact’s phased implementation means the 2025 figures alone do not establish that it caused the reported health conditions or recognition outcomes.
The report also focuses on Gaza, where many people are unable to leave the Strip to obtain visas to enter Spain, despite having relatives in the country. CEAR says children and families are especially vulnerable, and tighter restrictions on routes increase risks to their health and lives.
The organization is urging Spanish authorities to ensure access to quality legal assistance and information, with translation services also available, and to uphold the principle of non-refoulement. CEAR co-chair Mauricio Valiente said Spain’s experience receiving Ukrainian refugees showed that the country can act efficiently and humanely, and that this approach should extend to everyone in need.
CEAR links the decline in new applications to increased obstacles to leaving and a rise in forced returns, rather than to an improvement in the situation. Problems with making appointments and the unresolved issue of stateless people, primarily among the Sahrawis, remain pressing. As discussions continue on new migration rules, CEAR is calling for transparent monitoring of their implementation by the ombudsman.
Spain continues to face challenges in migration and asylum. UN data show that the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached 117.5 million in 2025. A decline in migration flows does not always indicate an improvement in conditions; it can reflect stricter controls or restrictions on movement. Refugee status recognition and access to protection are also being debated in other EU countries. Materials on russpain.com have recently examined legal questions around work with vulnerable groups, including the diplomatic risks and migration-policy effects of negotiations with the Maduro regime.
