The Popular Party continues to struggle to establish a common position among its autonomous communities regarding the distribution of the 5,500 irregular migrant minors under the care of the Canary Islands. Following a meeting between the president of the archipelago, Fernando Clavijo, the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, and Miguel Tellado, parliamentary spokesperson for the Popular Party, no definitive agreement has been reached. The proposed legislative changes would require communities to take in unaccompanied foreign minors when a region is overwhelmed by irregular migrant arrivals. The negotiations are ongoing, with both parties aiming to reach a resolution by July.
The Popular Party, which governs in coalition with Coalición Canaria in the Canary Islands, faces challenges in reaching a unified position due to the varying interests of its autonomous communities. The Government’s proposed plan urges the Popular Party to coordinate a common stance among its territories. While most communities have expressed concerns over the strain on their respective reception systems, the Government of the Canary Islands and Ceuta are pressuring their party members for support. Despite internal disagreements, the Popular Party has refrained from making public statements about the ongoing negotiations.
The new model agreed upon by the central government and the Canary Islands aims to distribute unaccompanied foreign minors across Spain when a region exceeds 150% of its capacity to accommodate such minors. Canarias currently hosts nearly triple its maximum capacity of 2,000 minors. The redistribution would focus on regions that are not facing the same level of migration pressure, taking into account factors such as income, unemployment, and the number of minors already under care. This method is an update to the existing voluntary distribution system for small groups of minors.
The new measure is designed to provide urgent relief to regions like Canarias, Ceuta, and Melilla in times of emergency, with an initial budget allocation of 125 million euros to be distributed among welcoming territories. The President of Ceuta, Juan Vivas, supports the need for a coordinated approach through legislation rather than individual community decisions. The Popular Party has proposed adjustments to the proposed text regarding funding and emergency declarations, which will be considered during the upcoming conference. The aim is to address the urgent situation and impending crisis from a legislative perspective with the support of all parties involved.
Overall, the negotiations between the central government, the Government of the Canary Islands, and the Popular Party aim to address the challenges posed by the increasing number of irregular migrant arrivals and the strain on reception systems. While there are still disagreements within the party and among autonomous communities, the push for legislative changes to facilitate the distribution of unaccompanied foreign minors is a crucial step towards finding a resolution to the current situation. As discussions continue, the involvement of all stakeholders and the consideration of various proposals will be essential for reaching a sustainable and effective solution to the ongoing crisis.
