Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón

 In June 2018, a new Spanish government was formed under direction of Pedro Sánchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) (See Spain, “Structural Organization”). At first, Pedro Sanchez pursued a different migration policy from his predecessor Rajoy and his Italian counterpart. Sanchez appeared to be reversing the strong trend of migration policies in Europe “with symbolic decisions and statements.” However, these developments were contradicted by measures taken in the following months. Despite the European Court of Human Rights decision, pushbacks at the southern border continued and the fences remained in Ceuta and Melilla. Sanchez thus eventually returned to the traditional Spanish approach to migration policy of externalizing border control. (See Spain, “General Overview”).  In particular, on February 2019, On 8 January 2019, Spanish port authorities refused to allow the “Open Arms” to leave Barcelona. In August 2019, “Open Arms” rescued 124 people from the Central Mediterranean, leading to further tensions with the Spanish government. Spain refused to assist the ship and its passengers, leaving it stranded for 19 days before Italy allowed for exiles to be disembarked in Lampedusa.On 18 January 2019, NGO ship Aita Mari was similarly denied authorization to depart from Pasaia (Basque country).  (See Spain, "NGO criminalization").

During Sánchez's government, Spain has continued to actively participating in Operation Sophia, not only carrying out surveillance and rescue work, but also training Libyan coastguards itself. Some  reports indicate that on 22 July 2018, the first training course taught by Spanish soldiers at the Marine Corps School “General Albacete y Fúster” in Cartagena (Murcia), was completed. There were 27 students who had received classes since 25 June 2018. On 5 July 2019, more than 350 Libyan military personnel had been trained in Spain under the auspices of EUNAVFOR MED. (See Spain, “Libyian Coastguard Training”).