In a bid to alleviate mounting pressures on the Canary Islands, the Spanish government has formally requested the European Commission to facilitate the redistribution of migrants arriving on the archipelago to other parts of Europe, Economy, Trade and Business Minister Carlos Cuerpo announced this week.
Cuerpo outlined the proposals during a question session in Spain’s Congress of Deputies on Wednesday, responding to concerns raised by Canary Coalition deputy Cristina Valido about the strains facing the islands.
The minister revealed that Madrid had submitted a comprehensive package of initiatives to Brussels, aimed at reinforcing economic and social stability in the region. He emphasized the government's openness to “all proposals” that would ensure the archipelago’s “territorial cohesion.”
Central to the requests is the establishment of mechanisms for the redistribution of unaccompanied migrant minors and the transfer of migrants arriving in outermost regions, such as the Canary Islands, to other European territories.
Cuerpo highlighted the need to prevent an “overconcentration” of migrants in these areas, underscoring the disproportionate burden placed on the Canary Islands amid ongoing arrivals.
The proposals form part of a broader effort to address the demands on the archipelago, with the Spanish government seeking European solidarity to manage the influx effectively.
This development comes as Spanish authorities continue to grapple with migrant flows to the Canary Islands, prompting calls for coordinated action at the EU level to support the region’s stability.
