SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 29th Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister for the Presidency, Public Administrations, Justice and Security of the Government of the Canary Islands, Nieves Lady Barreto, reached an agreement today, Monday, with the Canary Islands Council of Bar Associations, led by president Rafael Massieu, regarding enhancements in the compensation for free legal assistance services provided by legal professionals and solicitors during the special immigration shift.
These enhancements will be implemented through the adjustment of the scales stipulated by Order 17 May 2019. With the forthcoming publication of this new Order in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC), there will be a more than 30% increase in remuneration for the services rendered, allowing for separate payment for appeals in addition to initial assistance.
Nieves Lady Barrero elucidated that this modification was prompted by a legal dispute following an Order dated May 12, 2023, which included appeals under the ambit of initial assistance. “Our intention was not only to remunerate the services provided but also to resolve the issue; hence, a modification to the order and the scales was imperative to enable separate payment for appeal resources that bring closure to the first instance,” she articulated.
The Minister was joined at the press briefing by the head of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Bar Association, José Manuel Niederleytner, and the vice-head, Mila Pacheco, with Juan Antonio Rodríguez, head of the Santa Cruz de La Palma Bar Association, participating via video conference.
In her address, she disclosed that this new Order has been leveraged to elevate the scale for initial assistance, bypassing the awaited update for the general shift, which will be progressively addressed: “Given our focus on immigration matters, we have also decided to enhance legal assistance at the foundational level, recognising the invaluable service provided by these professionals.”
Addressing the identified issues, the Minister emphasised that payment for the services delivered had already been mandated. “Thus, this recognition has been formalised, and the outstanding balance is contingent upon the bar association furnishing us with the requisite data,” she remarked.
However, she indicated that a legal assessment had been commissioned from the legal services and received in early July, affirming that according to the scales order, appeals must be perceived as encompassed within the scope of assistance. Consequently, resolving this issue entailed an adjustment to the order, notwithstanding its presence in a resolution.
“This is the appropriate legal course to eliminate ambiguity and offer clarity. That is precisely what we have done by excluding appeals from the realm of basic assistance to facilitate separate remuneration,” she added, asserting that the ratification of the order will not impede the disbursement of appeal resources, while declaring its retrospective effect from January 1, 2024.
