Herstal saw prominent Belgian politician Paul Magnette reiterate his support for an economic approach modeled after Spain, labeling it a “fairer” alternative to existing policies. But can the successes seen in the Iberian nation truly be replicated in Belgium, and what are the nuanced factors at play?

Spain’s Economic Surge: A Statistical Overview

Magnette highlighted several key performance indicators where Spain is currently excelling. Data reveals Spain’s impressive economic growth, reaching 2.8% in 2025, compared to Belgium’s more modest 1.1%. This growth has contributed to a reduction in national debt and the creation of approximately 3 million jobs since 2018.

However, the Spanish unemployment rate, while decreasing, remains above the European Union average, exceeding Belgium’s figures. Despite this, the downward trend is undeniable, signaling positive momentum in the Spanish labor market.

The Migration Factor: A Critical Component of Spanish Growth

Analysts increasingly point to notable immigration and worker regularization policies as central drivers of Spain’s economic gains. Without the influx of labor, the current Iberian economic landscape would look drastically diffrent. This viewpoint raises questions about whether Belgium could achieve similar results through comparable policies.

Economist Ruben Dewitte noted in September that Spain’s GDP per capita growth hasn’t outpaced the European average, suggesting a more complex dynamic at play. Madrid has recently approved the regularization of 500,000 migrants,further fueling this debate.

Etienne de Callataÿ,an economics professor at the University of Namur,emphasized that the success of immigration as an economic driver hinges on the effective integration and training of the workforce. He cautioned that Belgium’s current systems may not yield the same results as those in the Netherlands, where Ukrainian migrants have demonstrated higher employment rates.

A Comparative Look: Belgium vs. Spain

Here’s a quick comparison of key economic indicators:

Indicator Spain (2025/2026) Belgium (2025/2026)
GDP Growth 2.8% 1.1%
Job Creation (Since 2018) ~3 million ~439,000
Unemployment Rate < 10% > Spain

Political and Social Considerations

The political climate differs significantly between Spain and Belgium. While Spain benefits from a less polarized debate and a broad consensus among unions, employers, and religious institutions regarding immigration, Belgium faces a more fractured political landscape.The rise of far-right parties in Europe poses a challenge to policies favoring widespread regularization.

The Spanish model also includes a focus on renewable energy, with over 55% of the country’s electricity now generated from sources like solar and wind power. Belgium, while industrialized, remains more reliant on fossil fuels like gas.

Furthermore, Spain introduced a wealth tax in 2023, despite remaining more unequal than Belgium, according to the Gini index. Prosperous economic policy requires considering a wide range of factors, not merely implementing isolated measures.

Challenges to Replication

Replicating Spain’s success in Belgium isn’t straightforward. Spain benefits from lower wages, reduced labor taxation, and the absence of automatic salary indexation. these factors contribute to a more flexible labor market. The International Monetary Fund provides extensive data on comparative economic policies across Europe.

Additionally, some critics argue that Spain’s housing policies, aimed at protecting tenants, have inadvertently led to a decrease in housing supply and increased rental prices in major cities.

Is Belgium ready to embrace the complexities and trade-offs inherent in the Spanish economic model? And what role will public perception play in accepting potentially controversial policies like large-scale migrant regularization?