The president of the Parliament of the Canary Islands says that the archipelago cannot be a “huge cemetery” or “eight prison islands”
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, September 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Astrid Pérez, warned this Monday of the “exorbitant” escalation of irregular migration in the Canary Islands and has demanded the involvement of the State and the European Union to improve reception on the islands.
At the opening of the ‘Conecta Conference. Canary Islands-Europe’ has said that immigration has been placed “at the center” of the political and social debate and is seen “with great concern” from the archipelago as it is one of the “enormous challenges” of the ‘European agenda’ and of Their response depends, to a large extent, on the “credit” of the institutions with the citizens.
Pérez has indicated that it is “essential” that the parliamentary chambers are articulated and “gain more strength” through “dialogue, experiences and stable networks of interparliamentary cooperation”, and therefore, he has claimed the “leadership” of the Parliament of the Canary Islands in analyze the migration phenomenon.
The president has pointed out that the Canary Islands are the “southern border” of Europe and therefore “solidarity” is needed in the face of the migratory “challenge” because the archipelago cannot become a “huge cemetery” or “eight prison islands”, since the border He is “vulnerable and weak.”
Along these lines, it has demanded technical and personal means to confront this “human drama” that continues to grow, with more than 14,000 migrants so far this year, almost 25% more, and with more than 2,500 minors in foster care, a 60% more than last year.
He has warned of the risks of the “political and social crisis” in Senegal, with almost 17 million inhabitants and more than 2,600 migrants arriving in the archipelago in the last month, which represents more than 60% of the total arrivals.
Likewise, he has not hidden the fact that Moroccans, with 21% of arrivals this year, are going to increase due to the “terrible earthquake” that has hit the poorest villages and therefore “will generate an increase in desires to emigrate”.
Pérez has insisted on demanding a “serious and effective involvement” of the State and the EU with an “adequate migration and diplomatic policy and more material and human resources.”
In his opinion, “foreign support is an urgent need, we have limited resources, it is a need that cannot be postponed because lives are lost every week.”
The president has also influenced the debate that will open on Wednesday and Thursday regarding the structural funds that, endowed with 392,000 million, try to “favor greater economic and social balance.”
Along these lines, he has pointed out that the Canary Islands are a “region in transition” and has “differentiated treatment” as an outermost region and has expressed his desire that in this Legislature “the voice of the Canary Islands be heard inside and outside” the borders.
