Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 25 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The president of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, expressed his regret on Tuesday over the “unfulfilled commitments” of the European Union (EU) in Mauritania, which renders it “impossible” to manage the departure of Cayucos and Pateras from a coastline exceeding 700 kilometres.
In answer to a question posed by ASG during the plenary control session of Parliament, he described the situation in Mauritania as a “very harsh reality,” marked by “high poverty” and “considerable” income disparity, compounded by the pressures they must endure in the Sahel region, with over 150,000 refugees who “aspire to reach” the Canary Islands.
Consequently, he advocated for the “notable success” of the institutional visit completed last week with a delegation of entrepreneurs and researchers aimed at establishing a “path” for assistance and collaboration to help address the immigration scenario.
In this regard, he emphasised the importance of the latest interreg programme in Mauritania, valued at around 30 million euros, along with the ‘Tierra Firme’ initiative, implemented by the Canarian government in both that country and Senegal to train young individuals in trades that are in demand within the Canary Islands.
The ASG spokesperson, Casimir, pointed out that there is a labour shortage in the archipelago.
He added that both maritime and aerial connectivity with Africa need enhancement, advocating for the Canary Islands’ role as an “interlocutor” with Spain and the continent, considering that immigration is a “structural” issue.
He did not shy away from mentioning the “great tragedies” caused by the ‘Atlantic Route’, which resulted in over 10,000 fatalities last year, while highlighting the decision of the United States to dissolve the Development Agency, stating that Africans “will be poorer than they were.”
