The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed a set of measures to Brussels aimed at simplifying regulations for the EU’s outermost regions (ORs), which include nine territories from France, Portugal, and Spain, entitled to special treatment under EU treaties, as stated by Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres.
Canary Islands Government Seeks Specific Measures
The Canary Islands Government has also reached out to the European Commission, requesting unique provisions for ORs regarding housing to mitigate rising costs. Their focus is on restricting or limiting property purchases by non-resident foreign nationals.
President Fernando Clavijo visited Brussels to advocate for this cause, emphasizing that one in four homes sold in the Canary Islands is acquired by foreign buyers.
He pointed out the region’s limited and fragmented territory, stating that real estate market pressures disproportionately impact local residents.
The Spanish Government had yet to respond to Clavijo’s request, apart from confirming it would be under consideration, but has already submitted its own proposal for the ORs, specifically addressing the Canary Islands.
“We propose limiting housing acquisitions in ORs for non-residential use through legislative measures, aimed at reducing prices and increasing access for young people and other disadvantaged groups,” Minister Torres explained in a statement released by his office on Wednesday.
Additional Considerations
Spain’s engagement in the discussion regarding the future of OR regulations also touches on issues pertinent to the Canary Islands, such as the primary sector, immigration, and state aid.
For the primary sector, Spain emphasizes the importance of the Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity (POSEI), stating it is crucial for the region’s primary sector.
The proposal, backed by the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, underscores the strategic significance of the primary sector in ORs, particularly in the Canary Islands, and calls for the maintenance of POSEI’s unique attributes with adequate funding, as well as streamlined administrative processes.
The Ministry of Territorial Policy, which prepared the document for Brussels, is also requesting sustainability measures for the primary sector, including rules for the urgent renewal of the small fishing fleet in ORs and amendments to EU regulations to permit ‘de minimis’ aid for safety and sustainability improvements on fishing vessels under 12 meters.
Migration Concerns
Spain is advocating for measures to “facilitate the redistribution of minors and the transfer of migrants from ORs to mainland Europe, preventing their concentration in these areas while ensuring a suitable legal framework.”
In 2025, the Canary Islands managed the care of nearly 6,000 African minors arriving by boat, and they are now beginning to be redistributed to other Spanish regions following a recent reform in Immigration Law.
Spain is also requesting a more flexible framework for state aid approval in the Canary Islands and other ORs, without caps on amounts, sectors, or time limits, provided it does not compromise the internal cohesion of the Union.
Finally, Spain encourages Brussels to utilize the outermost regions as a testing ground for legislative innovations in a controlled setting, simplifying regulations and alleviating burdens prior to their broader implementation across the Union.
(January 14)
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