The bilateral commission on migration between the Canary Islands and the State, initially scheduled for this Wednesday, has been postponed to September 7. The delay is due to the trip of the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migrations, Elma Saiz, to Ceuta to monitor the current situation in the autonomous city.
However, the Sectoral Conference on Childhood remains scheduled for Thursday. It will discuss an extraordinary credit of 25 million euros for the care of migrant children in Ceuta. The Canary Islands, along with eight other regions, will participate and emphasize the need to appoint a representative for migrant minors during the triage phase, a key novelty of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
This bilateral meeting follows the failed attempt at the Sectoral Conference on Immigration in July, which was suspended due to a lack of quorum. This occurred because the PP regions boycotted the event, accusing the Government of Spain of "institutional disloyalty" and "opaque and irresponsible migratory policy."
The September meeting will analyze the state report on the implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum and provide information on European summits related to this pact. One of the points of contention between the Regional Government and the central government is the designation of the representative to assist unaccompanied migrant minors during the initial phase of their arrival, a responsibility for which clarification has been formally requested from the Government of Spain.
The Regional Executive maintains that this responsibility falls to the State, as the triage occurs "still under state competencies," before the minor is placed under regional guardianship. Conversely, the Government Delegation in the Canary Islands argued that the figure present during this phase cannot be law enforcement managing the Temporary Foreigner Reception Center where the minor arrives, implying the region should be present.
In addition to this issue, the meeting will address an analysis of the current migratory situation and planning for future irregular arrivals by sea, air, and land, according to sources from the Canary Islands Government's Ministry of Social Welfare. The functioning of the new immigration regulation and its economic impact on the archipelago will also be studied.
Another pending item on the agenda is the debate on the new Integration and Citizenship Plan, initially endowed with 500 million euros. This plan includes 16 measures aimed at advancing integration, dignified work, order, regularity, rights, and obligations for migrants seeking a better future in Spain.
