{"id":2138469,"date":"2026-09-10T20:28:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T17:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2138469"},"modified":"2026-09-10T20:28:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T17:28:55","slug":"spanish-parliament-backs-granting-citizenship-to-western-saharans-born-during-spanish-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2138469","title":{"rendered":"Spanish parliament backs granting citizenship to Western Saharans born during Spanish rule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/90\/72\/1200x675_cmsv2_81f1d133-190d-50a5-8f7a-f8599c9b626a-9909072.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2924782-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924782\" data-cid=\"9909313\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924782-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/93\/13\/189x106_cmsv2_72d5cddb-0fb1-5589-a933-3f674c8ee0bc-9909313.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The road between Susch and Zernez is 6.2km long.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Several dead as Dutch tourist coach overturns in Switzerland\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924612-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924612\" data-cid=\"9908448\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924612-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/84\/48\/189x106_cmsv2_0c34493c-1a23-5941-be93-f0976f76c282-9908448.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Three Russian submarines were prevented from completing their training in Arctic waters near vital undersea cables.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    NATO allies successfully foil Russian undersea cable sabotage mission\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924604-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924604\" data-cid=\"9908630\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924604-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/84\/19\/189x106_cmsv2_023ac645-aa11-524c-a9e0-37f64857e5f6-9908419.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The famous Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis has died at the age of 54 from cardiac arrest. Photo from one of his concerts in 2017.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Giorgos Mazonakis: Arrests made in probe into Greek star&#8217;s death\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924586-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2924586\" data-cid=\"9908372\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924586-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/83\/72\/189x106_cmsv2_0b84a97c-166b-5a04-956e-28141def7132-9908372.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Founder of the PISA test Andreas Schleicher during an interview with Euronews on 10 September, 2026, in Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    12 minutes with<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    AI &#8216;hollowing out&#8217; youth&#8217;s capabilities, PISA founder tells Euronews\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924782-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924782\" data-cid=\"9909313\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924782-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/93\/13\/189x106_cmsv2_72d5cddb-0fb1-5589-a933-3f674c8ee0bc-9909313.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The road between Susch and Zernez is 6.2km long.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Several dead as Dutch tourist coach overturns in Switzerland\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924612-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924612\" data-cid=\"9908448\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924612-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/84\/48\/189x106_cmsv2_0c34493c-1a23-5941-be93-f0976f76c282-9908448.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Three Russian submarines were prevented from completing their training in Arctic waters near vital undersea cables.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    NATO allies successfully foil Russian undersea cable sabotage mission\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924604-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924604\" data-cid=\"9908630\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924604-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/84\/19\/189x106_cmsv2_023ac645-aa11-524c-a9e0-37f64857e5f6-9908419.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The famous Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis has died at the age of 54 from cardiac arrest. Photo from one of his concerts in 2017.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Giorgos Mazonakis: Arrests made in probe into Greek star&#8217;s death\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924586-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2924586\" data-cid=\"9908372\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924586-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/83\/72\/189x106_cmsv2_0b84a97c-166b-5a04-956e-28141def7132-9908372.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Founder of the PISA test Andreas Schleicher during an interview with Euronews on 10 September, 2026, in Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    12 minutes with<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    AI &#8216;hollowing out&#8217; youth&#8217;s capabilities, PISA founder tells Euronews\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Spanish parliament backs granting citizenship to Western Saharans born during Spanish rule<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/90\/72\/1536x864_cmsv2_81f1d133-190d-50a5-8f7a-f8599c9b626a-9909072.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Tesh Sidi, MP for Sumar and M\u00e1s Madrid, in a 2025 file photo\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Tesh Sidi, Sumar and M\u00e1s Madrid MP, in a 2025 file photo<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Congreso de los Diputados<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Congreso de los Diputados\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspJavier Iniguez De Onzono&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspEmma De Ruiter\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1789072117\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-09-10 22:28:37 +02:00\">10\/09\/2026 &#8211; 22:28 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"22:28\">22:28<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" 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loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Although the exact number of beneficiaries is unknown, around 80,000 Sahrawis are believed to be eligible, with some estimates reaching almost 200,000 when including descendants.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Spain&#8217;s parliament backed a law on Thursday granting citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharans who were born when Spain ran the disputed territory, which is now largely controlled by Morocco.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The text grants Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before 29 September 1977 and to their children through a certificate of naturalisation, considering that date the effective end of decolonisation. This also applies to those who do not legally reside in Spain.<\/p>\n<p>Although the exact number of beneficiaries is unknown, around 80,000 Sahrawis are believed to be eligible, with some estimates reaching almost 200,000 including the descendants.<\/p>\n<p>The law passed by 168 votes to 31 despite the People&#8217;s Party (Spain&#8217;s main centre-right opposition party) abstaining, and the far-right party Vox voting against it. Both parties had originally supported the bill in its early stages \u2014 at a time when the governing Socialist Party itself was reluctant to move it forward. <\/p>\n<p>The Catalan pro-independence party Junts also abstained. The law will now have to be approved by the Senate before receiving final approval, at which point beneficiaries will have three years from its official publication to apply for nationality.<\/p>\n<p>To qualify, applicants must prove their status using a valid document \u2014 a Spanish ID card, an entry in the UN-verified census compiled for a planned (but never held) referendum on Western Sahara&#8217;s status, or a birth certificate. Less formal documents, such as school records, retirement pension paperwork, a Spanish driver&#8217;s license, or hospital and medical records, can also be used as evidence.<\/p>\n<p>The bill was championed by Sumar, the smaller party in Spain&#8217;s coalition government, whose members include Tesh Sidi, an engineer born in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are correcting a historic injustice: cutting the process down to two years once you have legal residence in Spain. Until now, Sahrawis had to wait 10, 14, or even 24 years to apply for Spanish nationality, despite having a Spanish father and legal residence,&#8221; Sidi said, defending the bill. &#8220;Abstaining or voting no means siding with Morocco.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Diplomatic implications<\/h2>\n<p>The law has implications for relations between Spain and Morocco. Western Sahara has been largely controlled by Morocco since 1975, but the United Nations considers it a non-self-governing territory.<\/p>\n<p>Morocco&#8217;s decades-old and ongoing conflict with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people, had long been a thorny issue for Spain.<\/p>\n<p>But Madrid shifted its long-standing position of neutrality in 2022 and backed Rabat&#8217;s autonomy plan for the former Spanish colony as part of a diplomatic rapprochement.<\/p>\n<p>Madrid&#8217;s policy towards Rabat is now under fierce criticism after tens of thousands of migrants streamed into Ceuta from Morocco in late July&#8217;s unprecedented and deadly rush.<\/p>\n<p>The leftist government has avoided blaming Morocco &#8212; which claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Spain&#8217;s other north African territory of Melilla &#8212; but the right accuses Rabat of orchestrating the surge for political motives.<\/p>\n<p>Against this backdrop, the initiative to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis has divided opinion in Morocco but not prompted condemnation from the government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-contributors c-article-contributors-supplementary u-margin-top-2 u-padding-top-2\">\n<p>Additional sources<strong> \u2022 AFP<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Ceuta President urges the EU to take firm action against Morocco, as the city is &#8216;on the brink of collapse&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Spain government in disarray as conflicting reports swirl over Morocco\u2019s role in Ceuta<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Spanish police chief denies existence of report blaming Morocco for Ceuta migrant crossings<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Spain<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  spanish parliement<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Western Sahara<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Morocco<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2924624-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924624\" data-cid=\"9908512\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924624-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/85\/12\/320x180_cmsv2_ec3e00a8-d0c2-5272-bce2-3d8ad513879d-9908512.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A migrant who crossed from Morocco into Spain holds a sign reading, in Spanish, &quot;asylum&quot; as he lines up for food in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Asylum requests in Europe drop to five-year low in first half of 2026<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2924718-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924718\" data-cid=\"9908966\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924718-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/89\/66\/320x180_cmsv2_bc897227-4280-515d-ae59-432fda7847cb-9908966.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A page from the Shein website is shown in this photo.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU Commission eyes import overhaul to crack down on illegal products<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2924575-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924575\" data-cid=\"9908213\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924575-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" 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alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2924323-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924323\" data-cid=\"9907068\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Finland completes 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alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924624-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924624\" data-cid=\"9908512\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924624-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/85\/12\/320x180_cmsv2_ec3e00a8-d0c2-5272-bce2-3d8ad513879d-9908512.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A migrant who crossed from Morocco into Spain holds a sign reading, in Spanish, &quot;asylum&quot; as he lines up for food in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Asylum requests in Europe drop to five-year low in first half of 2026<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924718-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924718\" data-cid=\"9908966\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924718-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/89\/66\/320x180_cmsv2_bc897227-4280-515d-ae59-432fda7847cb-9908966.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A page from the Shein website is shown in this photo.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU Commission eyes import overhaul to crack down on illegal products<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924575-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924575\" data-cid=\"9908213\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924575-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/82\/13\/320x180_cmsv2_d37abbac-1a66-5a92-86d5-af6f508f379f-9908213.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"More than 100 MEPs signed the letter\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    MEPs push to finance Ukraine defence through Russian frozen assets<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924782-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924782\" data-cid=\"9909313\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924782-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/93\/13\/320x180_cmsv2_72d5cddb-0fb1-5589-a933-3f674c8ee0bc-9909313.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The road between Susch and Zernez is 6.2km long.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Several dead as Dutch tourist coach overturns in Switzerland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924620-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924620\" data-cid=\"9908508\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924620-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/85\/08\/320x180_cmsv2_5265a0b1-49f4-5b63-9e41-9da0c8c97776-9908508.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A Houthi fighter carries a rocket-propelled grenade launcher as they march during a mobilisation campaign in Sana&apos;a, 10 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Houthis blitz Yemen&#8217;s Red Sea coastline in push to seize Bab el-Mandeb<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924323-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924323\" data-cid=\"9907068\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Finland completes work on 200km fence along border with Russia<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924398-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924398\" data-cid=\"9907445\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The top 10 most walkable cities \u2013 and seven are in Europe<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924409-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924409\" data-cid=\"9907469\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The best airports in the world ranked \u2013 and number one is in Europe<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924567-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924567\" data-cid=\"9908147\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US Treasury yields surge as $6 billion bond buyback disappoints market<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924588-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924588\" data-cid=\"9908384\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    TV star Sarah Khalifa faces death penalty in Egypt \u2014 what comes next?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Spain&#8217;s parliament backed a law on Thursday granting citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharans who were born when Spain ran the disputed territory, which is now largely controlled by Morocco.The text grants Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before 29 September 1977 and to their children through a certificate of naturalisation, considering that date the effective end of decolonisation. This also applies to those who do not legally reside in Spain.Although the exact number of beneficiaries is unknown, around 80,000 Sahrawis are believed to be eligible, with some estimates reaching almost 200,000 including the descendants.The law passed by 168 votes to 31 despite the People&#8217;s Party (Spain&#8217;s main centre-right opposition party) abstaining, and the far-right party Vox voting against it. Both parties had originally supported the bill in its early stages \u2014 at a time when the governing Socialist Party itself was reluctant to move it forward.The Catalan pro-independence party Junts also abstained. The law will now have to be approved by the Senate before receiving final approval, at which point beneficiaries will have three years from its official publication to apply for nationality.To qualify, applicants must prove their status using a valid document \u2014 a Spanish ID card, an entry in the UN-verified census compiled for a planned (but never held) referendum on Western Sahara&#8217;s status, or a birth certificate. Less formal documents, such as school records, retirement pension paperwork, a Spanish driver&#8217;s license, or hospital and medical records, can also be used as evidence.The bill was championed by Sumar, the smaller party in Spain&#8217;s coalition government, whose members include Tesh Sidi, an engineer born in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.&#8221;We are correcting a historic injustice: cutting the process down to two years once you have legal residence in Spain. Until now, Sahrawis had to wait 10, 14, or even 24 years to apply for Spanish nationality, despite having a Spanish father and legal residence,&#8221; Sidi said, defending the bill. &#8220;Abstaining or voting no means siding with Morocco.&#8221;Diplomatic implicationsThe law has implications for relations between Spain and Morocco. Western Sahara has been largely controlled by Morocco since 1975, but the United Nations considers it a non-self-governing territory.Morocco&#8217;s decades-old and ongoing conflict with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people, had long been a thorny issue for Spain.But Madrid shifted its long-standing position of neutrality in 2022 and backed Rabat&#8217;s autonomy plan for the former Spanish colony as part of a diplomatic rapprochement.Madrid&#8217;s policy towards Rabat is now under fierce criticism after tens of thousands of migrants streamed into Ceuta from Morocco in late July&#8217;s unprecedented and deadly rush.The leftist government has avoided blaming Morocco &#8212; which claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Spain&#8217;s other north African territory of Melilla &#8212; but the right accuses Rabat of orchestrating the surge for political motives.Against this backdrop, the initiative to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis has divided opinion in Morocco but not prompted condemnation from the government.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/09\/10\/spanish-parliament-backs-granting-citizenship-to-western-saharans-born-during-spanish-rule&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/90\/72\/1200x675_cmsv2_81f1d133-190d-50a5-8f7a-f8599c9b626a-9909072.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Several dead as Dutch tourist coach overturns in Switzerland Europe News NATO allies successfully foil Russian undersea cable sabotage mission Europe News Giorgos Mazonakis: Arrests made in probe into Greek star&#8217;s death 12 minutes with AI &#8216;hollowing out&#8217; youth&#8217;s capabilities, PISA founder tells Euronews Europe News Several dead as Dutch [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2138469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2138469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138469\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2138469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2138469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2138469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}