The regions of Canarias and Euskadi have joined forces to send a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. In it, they express their discontent over the Spanish Government's "lack of dialogue, coordination, and planning" in the implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which came into effect on June 12. The leaders of both communities, Fernando Clavijo (Canarias) and Imanol Pradales (Euskadi), are requesting effective participation from the autonomous communities in the preparation, application, and monitoring of state plans.
The Minister of Presidency of Canarias, Nieves Lady Barreto, explained that both regions present distinct yet complementary realities: Canarias as a key point on the Atlantic route, considered the most dangerous, and Euskadi as the northern border and a transit zone. Both administrations argue that the new European migration framework cannot be applied without considering the territories that will directly bear its consequences.
Barreto emphasized Canarias' need for «precise, prior information, shared planning, sufficient funding, and clear protocols» to manage a phenomenon she considers «a structural situation that is here to stay» and requires a «structural, stable, and shared» response.
The minister recalled Canarias' efforts to communicate its migratory needs to the central government over the past three years, citing as an example the archipelago's push for the legal modification allowing the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors among autonomous communities. The letter to Brussels stems from concern over the development of state plans without consulting Canarias, the community that hosts the most migrants in Spain.
Barreto summarized the alliance with Euskadi as a union of the "southern border of Europe" and the "northern border of Spain," highlighting the shared concern over the management of the European migration pact and the need for the State to involve the autonomous communities in its development. The letter also expresses concern about the lack of a «clear internal translation» of the European solidarity mechanism within Spain.
