Transnational conference in Spain highlights community sponsorship as a driver of inclusion in rural Europe (+Report)

10 November 2025

On 28–29 October 2025, ICMC Europe/ Share Network, together with the Government of Navarra, convened a transnational conference on “Community Sponsorship and Inclusion in Rural Territories” in Tudela and Pamplona, Spain, bringing together over 90 participants from 10 European countries. The two-day event explored how community sponsorship and related pathways can make rural areas genuine places of welcome and safe havens for newcomers when the right conditions, cooperation and community engagement are in place.

Discussions showcased how rural communities in Ireland, Italy, France and Belgium are using sponsorship and community-based reception to counter depopulation, strengthen social cohesion and respond to rising anti-migrant sentiment. Examples ranged from small villages like Mandagout in France, which has welcomed nine families since 2016, to Belgian rural areas where community mobilisation and strong local partnerships help bridge gaps in under-resourced public services.

The conference underlined that newcomers are not only recipients of support but also key actors in rural revitalisation when engaged as active contributors in local economies, volunteering and community life. Case studies from Spain, Ireland, France and Italy illustrated how migrants are creating businesses, filling essential jobs, revitalising schools and public services, and inspiring new forms of community participation.

Community sponsorship in Navarra

Participants took part in a look-and-learn visit to Tudela, home to SOMOS, Navarra’s pioneering community sponsorship programme launched in 2021 and implemented by Fundación Civil San Francisco Javier through Centro Padre Lasa. In its first edition (2021–2024), SOMOS welcomed six refugee families – 33 people, mostly from Syria – and supported their path towards autonomy, with families learning Spanish, accessing services and, in some cases, securing independent housing and employment.