The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo (CC), is set to call on the Government this Tuesday to draw up an extraordinary contingency plan, including resources and referral arrangements, to tackle the surge in migration, particularly on El Hierro, and has warned that, if no response is forthcoming, the autonomous community will take legal action.
Clavijo addressed a press conference following the Governing Council meeting at which the proposal, endorsed on Sunday by the Islands‘ Immigration Forum, was approved, in a gesture of «far-sightedness» on the part of all the groups in the regional parliament, «except Vox», he emphasised.
The regional president, who has particularly highlighted the stance taken on this issue by the opposition parties (PSOE and Nueva Canarias), has set out the agreement reached, which is based on eight points calling for the creation of a permanent coordination mechanism between the central and Canarian governments that would meet weekly to assess arrivals and available resources, particularly in the case of unaccompanied minors.
Canary Islands: Clavijo calls for funding, redistribution and Frontex assistance
But the key issue, he went on to say, is the adoption of an extraordinary contingency plan that provides for financial resources and referrals to facilities on the mainland, as well as an «urgent» diplomatic initiative in the countries of origin of the migrants «to address the failure of previous policies» in this area.
Furthermore, the Spanish Government is being asked to request the inclusion of the Canary Islands in the solidarity mechanism provided for in the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, and to call for the deployment of resources from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
Furthermore, a request has been made to amend Article 23 of the Organic Law on the Judiciary in order to avoid «legal loopholes» that prevent the prosecution of individuals «who commit crimes and murders on the high seas», Clavijo has stated.
El Hierro: Migration is taking its toll on fishing and tourism
There are also calls for the approval of a package of emergency measures for the people of El Hierro, particularly those in La Restinga, where it is currently «impossible» to continue fishing due to the build-up of small boats in the harbour, and where, of the eleven diving centres that existed a few years ago, only four remain, with this also having an impact on the catering and hospitality sectors.
«This is the mandate that will be taken to La Moncloa tomorrow, not just on behalf of the president of the autonomous community, but on behalf of the whole of Canarian society,» declared Fernando Clavijo, who expects «concrete answers» from Tuesday’s inter-ministerial meeting, «because the time for speeches and promises is over».
Central government to ease the burden on El Hierro with four immediate measures
Clavijo is hoping for a response «in the very short term to ease the tension» and to manage a situation «which, unfortunately», is set to persist over time; and if there is «a clear willingness», he said, the Spanish Government can implement measures with immediate effect.
These include four measures: strengthening the state security forces and the Maritime Rescue Service’s vessels; contracting healthcare services from the Red Cross; and making available a package of financial resources, either through the central government or the regional government, to compensate the island of El Hierro.
The President of the Canary Islands has pointed out that the central government «is not a caretaker government» and that, on other matters, «we have seen how they have mobilised within minutes to issue decree-laws», so «there is absolutely no excuse for failing to respond».
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