SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 10 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Canary Islands government, Fernando Clavijo, referred to the migration agreement signed in Tenerife with the national leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, as a “significant advance” this Tuesday, as it unites twelve autonomous regions along with the cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Feijóo and the Vice President of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez (PP), Clavijo highlighted that “this must be a national agreement” because it is not merely about “gaining an additional vote” in Parliament but providing a “coordinated response” from all public bodies to “treat migrants with dignity”, citing the situation of the over 5,500 unaccompanied minors currently on the islands as an example.
The new agreement with the PP ensures a “strong majority” in the Senate, and now the focus is on presenting this document to the Government to instigate the “sit-in” it has been calling for months and to propose contributions to ensure that everything is achieved with “consensus”.
“We present the agreement to the Government with the intention to negotiate,” he underlined, stressing that “beyond the political discussions” in Parliament regarding changes to the immigration law, it is essential to “reach a national consensus” because “those fleeing famine, and the Canary Islands’ public institutions deserve it” in order to provide a “coordinated and humanitarian response.”
Clavijo further noted that “due to the lack of response and solutions” from the central government to a “serious issue” affecting the Canary Islands, his administration has resolved to take initiative and has crafted a “specific document” with the PP, as the anticipated meetings “have yet to occur.”
The president clarified that “one matter is the amendment of article 35”, which can be executed via a decree law or bill, while another is this “national migration pact” that “encompasses much more” and can influence the debate over the amendment of article 35 or other types of initiatives.
Domínguez remarked that the agreement reached by the Government and the PP sets the stage for “concluding” the discussions on the modification of article 35 of the immigration law and addressing the “humanitarian crisis”.
He expressed gratitude to President Clavijo for his “efforts and dedication” in facilitating discussions to ensure that the agreements can “come to fruition”, and to Feijóo for “harmonising the views” of 12 autonomous communities alongside Ceuta and Melilla.
In this context, he emphasised that this pact does not solely address migrant minors but immigration “as a whole”, and we now need to assess “the willingness” of the central government to ensure that “the political disputes and conflicts come to an end.” “I hope that we all rise to the occasion,” he added.
