SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Jan. 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The head of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, is engaging in discussions these days with the Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, to “establish a date and format” for the monitoring committee of the ‘Canarian agenda’, which is anticipated to take place this January, as reported this Friday by the CC spokesperson in Congress, Cristina Valido.
The nationalist group has expressed its desire for the meeting to occur this January, to examine “point by point” the scenario that arises “with and without the State’s general budgets”, and with the representatives selected by both groups, as stated in a press conference to review the legislative session.
He has highlighted the necessity of achieving “an appropriate format” for a meeting “that is as operational and effective as possible”, which ultimately enables “progress to be made.”
In this regard, Valido noted that in the scenario of having budgets, CC’s advocacy will assert that “the required funds” are available to “fulfil the Canarian agenda”, while in the case of “no budgets, there are aspects for those of us who wish to propose steps that could be taken alternatively.”
Overall, the CC spokesperson in Congress has emphasised “how challenging” it is to “assess” the extent of compliance with the Canarian agenda “when there are no general budgets”, because the situation does not permit “an accurate measurement of the commitment to Canarian issues in economic terms.”
Valido pointed out that in a climate of uncertainty, CC’s advocacy and efforts regarding the Canarian agenda has revolved around the principle that “everything that could be approved by decree should be approved; everything that could be extended, should be extended”, such as free transport and assistance and bonuses to La Palma.
“We continue our work with unaccompanied minors, we persist in making the repercussions of the volcanic eruption visible, and endeavour to find a solution to the housing demand in the Canary Islands,” he remarked.
When questioned about “that particular point” which, if unmet, would jeopardise support for Pedro Sánchez’s administration, Valido urged the monitoring committee to reassess priorities, which issues can be resolved with or without budgets, and which are “priority and definitive” for CC.
Regarding the immigration situation on the islands, the spokesperson for the Canary Coalition in Congress has commended the commitment of the Government of Spain to seek agreement on the proposal put forth by the governments of the Canary Islands and the Basque Country to ensure the transfer of unaccompanied minors arriving on the islands.
“The Government of Spain states that it will examine the proposals, that it will convey them to the State Bar, and once they have the report, they will discuss. We shall wait to see if this proposal can progress and garner support in the Lower House,” he added, noting that there is an “approach to Junts and it could form the necessary majority.”
SAN GINÉS: THE POLITICAL SCENARIO IS “DEVILISH”
The nationalist senator Pedro San Ginés has commented on the “devilish scenario” in which politics operates at the State level, where “the two major politicians clash daily, every week, in every plenary session”, a context in which, he argued, neither the Canarian senators of the PSOE nor those of the PP have the capacity to champion the specific interests of the Canary Islands, since “everything is dictated by national strategies.”
“Here, in the islands, the Government of the Canary Islands will continue its work, but it is equally important that at the State level, all agreements made with the Canary Islands are adhered to, and that entails implementing a series of negotiated measures that we are going to promote this year,” San Ginés asserted.
US ‘CAPE TEXAS’ VESSEL
Valido has also indicated that CC has yet to receive a response concerning the request for information from the central government regarding the “infrequent” operations of the North American vessel ‘Cape Texas’ in waters near the Canary Islands, although he has indicated that “this is the risk of being where we are, possessing international waters and failing to have clarified the authority in our waters.
“Firstly, the Government of Spain should inform us whether it was aware of the situation and what information it holds. Additionally, if it was indeed aware, why was it not communicated to us,” stated Valido, who further suggested addressing “how to manage such situations, where these vessels pass along our coast without the Canarians having any knowledge of what we are witnessing at sea.”
