Commissioner Johansson visits the Canary Islands together with Spanish and Belgian ministers to provide support in the field of migration management

Today, on 15 December, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will travel to the Canary Islands together with the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres; the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz; and Nicole de Moore, Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration.

In view of the recent increase in irregular arrivals to the Canary Islands, Commissioner Johansson will discuss the situation with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo. Discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation on migration management and preventing irregular departures and loss of life, while working closely with key partner countries. A joint press conference will be held at 12:30 GMT.

Commissioner Johansson will visit the Regional Coordination Centre in the Canary Islands, which is managed by the Guardia Civil. In the afternoon there will be a visit to the Centre for the Temporary Attention of Foreigners (Centro de Atención Temporal de Extranjeros).

The visit builds on ongoing work to implement the EU Action Plan on the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic Flyways, in particular by strengthening partnerships with the main countries of origin and transit along this route, in full coordination with Member States. The EU also continues to provide financial and operational support to the Canary Islands to manage migration, in particular with the “Joint Operation Canary Islands” coordinated by Frontex and supported by the European Union Agency for Asylum.