The existing president, Rosa Dávila, asserts that they have “neglected” the Canary Islands amidst the “crisis” in Africa and that “there are no further justifications.”
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 13 January. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands Federation (Fecai) sanctioned an institutional statement this Monday, demanding a “structural” resolution for the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors, increased financial resources, and enhancements to reception facilities.
The declaration reiterates the necessity to amend article 35 of the Immigration Law to enforce this distribution across all autonomous communities, prompting the councils to appeal to the central government and the Popular Parliamentary Group in Congress to “prioritise the humanitarian crisis and the unsustainable situation confronting the Canary Islands above political interests.”
The councils indicate that as of 12 January 2025, nearly 2,000 individuals have arrived on the archipelago by sea, contributing to over 46,840 arrivals in 2024.
“This predicament, exacerbated by institutional inaction and the absence of sustainable solutions, not only signifies a humanitarian crisis but also places the Canary Islands in an untenable position,” they state.
Fecai expresses concern that immigration “has been exploited as a political tool against opponents” while the islands “remain neglected at the nexus of this conflict,” asserting that “The Canary Islands cannot and must not be the battleground for this political struggle.”
In their view, “we demand unity and accountability to tackle this tragedy with the seriousness it warrants.”
Regarding the temporary distribution plan established between the Ministry of Public Administrations and the Government of the Canary Islands, they consider it “inadequate” and thus call for a “State policy.”
“Beyond specific obligations, we demand a legislative framework that ensures shared responsibility among all autonomous communities for the care of unaccompanied minors, with explicit and sustainable standards,” they highlight.
Additionally, they seek increased funding to facilitate appropriate infrastructure, enhance health and social services, and recruit more expert personnel to support the migrant population, particularly minors.
They also request a dedicated financial resource to support municipal, island, and regional services that are “overwhelmed” by migratory pressures, along with a “strong commitment” from the European Union to transfer migrants from the Canary Islands to other member states, with special attention to minors and vulnerable groups, as part of the European solidarity mechanism.
The manifesto further addresses the need to tackle the “root causes” of migration and to “intensify” collaboration with countries of origin and transit in order to combat the underlying issues of irregular migration such as extreme poverty, conflict, and climate change.
GREATER EU COORDINATION AND COMMITMENT
Fecai also calls for enhancements to port infrastructure, the allocation of more human resources for the identification and transfer of migrants, and improved coordination amongst agencies.
“The Canary Islands cannot continue to shoulder the burden of a migration crisis in isolation that affects the entire nation and Europe. The Atlantic migration route, one of the most perilous globally, has resulted in over 10,000 fatalities in 2024, including more than 1,500 children. These lives are more than just statistics; they highlight the intolerable human price of inadequate political will. We insist that all institutions act with responsibility and humanity. The time for excuses and disputes has passed; action is required now,” he states.
The current president of Fecai, Rosa Dávila, lamented that the migration crisis in the islands has devolved into a “strategic issue,” emphasising that “there are no further excuses,” and the central government must propose a royal decree.
“And we expect the PP to either endorse it or abstain, but for there to be a resolution for the Canary Islands. They have forsaken us, the Canary Islands and all Canarians, to bear the burden of an entire continent’s crisis. That is unacceptable,” she added.