The Canary Islands Request EU Priority for Migration Fund Allocation

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, has reached out to Magnus Brunner, the new European commissioner for home affairs and migration, urging him to prioritize the archipelago – the EU’s outermost region – in the allocation of funds for the European Migration and Asylum Pact. Clavijo highlighted the “critical situation” faced by the region due to the ongoing migration crisis.

In a statement released by the regional government on Friday, it was noted that Clavijo has also invited the Austrian commissioner to visit the Canary Islands to gain a firsthand understanding of the circumstances, as over 45,000 migrants have arrived this year, including approximately 5,400 unaccompanied minors.

In his letter to Brunner, Clavijo emphasized the importance of the forthcoming Spanish Execution Plan for the Migration and Asylum Pact, stating that the European Commission must decide on funding allocations for the national program during the first half of 2025, in relation to the mid-term review of AMIF and IGFV, as well as the MFF’s mid-term overview.

Clavijo urged that the financial resource distribution consider the “significant increase in migrant arrivals” experienced by the islands this year. He expressed hope that the European Commission would advocate for support, unity, and solidarity to address this migration challenge, particularly emphasizing the need for a coordinated response from regions on the front lines, which serve as the EU’s outer borders.

He underscored that the Canary Islands are currently enduring the most significant migration crisis in their history, resulting in profound effects across various levels in a territory already grappling with the challenges of being an outermost region. The situation regarding the care of over 5,400 unaccompanied minors was described by Clavijo as “completely unsustainable.”

Additionally, Clavijo’s letter to Brunner pointed out the alarming mortality rate associated with the Atlantic Route. According to a report from the NGO Caminando Fronteras, approximately 9,757 individuals perished in 2024, averaging about 28 deaths a day.

This correspondence to the European commissioner is part of a broader effort, following a similar letter sent to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In that letter, Clavijo requested details about the specific measures outlined in Spain’s plan submitted to Brussels for the implementation of the European Migration and Asylum Pact.

Clavijo reminded Sánchez that this document is crucial for border regions like the Canary Islands, which experience a significant share of national migration pressures and will play a pivotal role in shaping the subsequent actions for implementing the European Migration and Asylum Pact across the EU.

Finally, Clavijo inquired whether Sánchez had received any feedback from European institutions concerning a proposal to expedite the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact to the summer of 2025, a request initially announced by Sánchez during a plenary session of the Congress of Deputies on October 9.