The Canary Islands will close 2023 with the largest arrival of boats with migrants in its history: 37,187 until December 15, 140% more than last year. Some 14,000 have been moved to the Peninsula this autumn, within the reception system, which depends on the central government. However, the Canary Islands currently protect 4,391 unaccompanied minors – more than double the number it had in its care before the summer – as it is a regional jurisdiction.
Yesterday, the Canarian Government attended the sectoral Migration conference – the highest body of dialogue between the ministry led by Elma Saíz and the communities – with the hope that urgent measures would be adopted to launch a stable system throughout the State to welcome unaccompanied migrant minors, just as is done with adults. However, the Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children and Families of the Government of the Canary Islands, Candelaria Delgado, left the meeting regretting the lack of short-term measures, despite the fact that the territories were in favor of foster care, always and when the State increases the sources of financing to give them adequate attention and reception.
Thus, the only hope that the Canary Islands cling to, according to regional government sources, is the modification of the Minors’ Law so that foreign minors are not the exclusive responsibility of the community to which they arrive. This commitment is included in the agreement reached between PSOE and the Canarian Coalition for the investiture of Pedro Sánchez as president. However, yesterday the head of Immigration already warned that the modification of the law must have sufficient support in Congress and the Senate, so “dialogue and active listening” between communities of different political parties will be fundamental.
Catalonia was represented by the director of Igualtat, Mireia Mata, and the secretary of Children, Adolescents and Youth, Núria Vall. From the Generalitat they assure that they requested timely and updated information on the migrants who arrive in the Canary Islands and who are referred to Catalonia, and demanded “more spaces for dialogue and codecision” with the ministry to plan the arrival of immigrants. Likewise, the Government requested the transfer of financial funds from the EU for the reception.
At the end of the meeting, the minister announced a new reform of the regulations for the development of the organic law on Immigration to “simplify procedures” and “improve the protection of the rights of migrants.” In addition, she reported that it had been agreed to hold two sectoral Migration conferences a year.