As Spain moves forward with plans to regularise hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers, public debate around migration has once again intensified. Familiar claims about jobs, welfare, security and irregular migration continue to shape discussions — often without taking into account the broader economic and demographic realities facing Europe and the Mediterranean region.

To contribute to a more informed debate, EuroMeSCo is launching a five-part video series that addresses some of the most common misconceptions around migration and links them to evidence-based policy solutions.

Drawing on the network’s latest Policy Brief ” The Pact for the Mediterranean: a stimulus for enhanced skills and labour mobility? ” elaborated by Helena Hahn (European Policy Centre), the series also explores how the EU’s Pact for the Mediterranean (2025) could help respond to two interconnected structural challenges:

• Labour shortages and demographic decline in Europe
• Persistent youth unemployment in the Southern Mediterranean

Through stronger cooperation on skills development, labour mobility and migration governance, the Pact could offer a framework for turning shared pressures into shared opportunities.

From myths to policy solutions

Public debates often focus on immediate political controversies. Yet migration is closely linked to deeper transformations affecting both shores of the Mediterranean: demographic change, labour shortages, skills mismatches and unequal economic opportunities.

The EuroMeSCo video series aims to move beyond slogans and connect everyday debates to long-term policy choices.

Follow EuroMeSCo on LinkedIn to watch all five episodes, and explore the full Policy Brief for deeper analysis.