Santa Cruz de Tenerife – The Vice President of the European Fee, Margaritis Schinas, introduced this Wednesday the launch of a bundle of 5 measures to handle the “distinctive” migration disaster occurring within the Canary Islands, which incorporates an allocation of 14 million euros of further assist to alleviate the reception techniques on the Islands.
This bundle of measures was offered by the additionally liable for the Promotion of our European lifestyle throughout a press convention by which he intervened alongside the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, on the event of his go to to the Islands in mild of the migration challenges confronted by the archipelago.
Particularly, this motion plan contains a further 14 million euros of emergency assist, including to the 20 million already supplied by the European Fee final March, to extend reception capability, creation, renewal of facilities and relieve the strain on care techniques in Spain and the Islands.
Moreover, the chance opens for Spain to exceptionally resort to sources from the European Regional Growth Fund (ERDF) for migration insurance policies. Using these sources is thus awaiting the formal request from the Authorities of Spain to Brussels.
Likewise, the plan includes strengthening the safeguarding of our exterior border by means of the Canary Islands with joint operations with the Frontex Company and elevated help from the European Asylum Company, notably to handle the help of unaccompanied minors by activating further sources for the presence of those European businesses specialised in migration.
The bundle of measures introduced by Commissioner Schinas additionally entails a strengthening of cooperation relations with the international locations of origin and transit, reminiscent of Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia. On this regard, he introduced that this Thursday he’ll maintain a videoconference to coordinate cooperation with these international locations, which “have to be based mostly on a broad cooperation supply that not solely issues migration, but additionally progress, commerce, investments and alternatives for his or her residents.”
Lastly, the plan additionally includes the early utility within the Canary Islands of a few of the measures included within the Asylum and Migration Pact, which is able to come into impact in 2026. “We now have labored a few years in Europe treating immigration like firefighters; now it’s time to act as architects, constructing a brand new system based mostly on legislation,” said Schinas.
In conclusion, the Vice President conveyed a “easy however agency message of unity and solidarity” from the European Union with the Spanish and Island inhabitants. “And that’s, you aren’t alone. Europe stands by your facet,” he famous.
For his half, the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, thanked the “kindness and sensitivity” of Vice President Schinas, who “got here with proposals, sources and, above all, planning and horizon.” “From the Canary Islands we’re tremendously grateful. We now have felt extra understood by Europe than by the Authorities of Spain and as we speak, as soon as once more, the closeness, understanding, and assist of the EU with the Canary Islands is confirmed,” he indicated.
Clavijo highlighted that the extra 14 million euros contribution is an “invaluable assist in the moments we’re experiencing,” in addition to the chance for Spain to request sources from the ERDF for migration coverage, which is “an instance of clear dedication.” Due to this fact, he urged the Authorities of Spain to request these funds to assist the Canary Islands face the present scenario.
The Canary president additionally demanded that the Authorities of Spain requests the deployment of Frontex, “which might indicate saving 1000’s of lives presently misplaced within the Atlantic,” and to accentuate and assist the European Asylum Company, which is able to permit the help of greater than a thousand Malian kids. He additionally praised the cooperation with Senegal, Mauritania, and Gambia, and requested that a few of the measures included within the Asylum and Migration Pact be activated. (September 18)
