European Commissioner for Home Affairs: ‘The increasing migratory pressure towards the Canary Islands is a challenge we must face together’

Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs visited Las Palmas de Gran Canaria where she met the Minister of the Interior as well as regional and local authorities

The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, has visited Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. During the visit, she had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the work carried out by the Canary Islands Regional Coordination Centre of the Guardia Civil, the Migrant Reception Centre in Mogán and the Barranco Seco Foreigners’ Internment Centre. During her visit, she highlighted:

“the impressive efforts made by the Spanish government together with the security forces and the autonomous government of the Canary Islands to manage the migration situation. These efforts include the rescue of people at sea, the landing in times of COVID and their reception. But the most important thing is that these efforts will continue to guarantee access to one of the fundamental rights in the EU, that of applying for asylum”.

Increasing migratory pressure as a joint challenge

Johansson visited the Migrant Reception Centre in Mogán, accompanied by Sagrario de León Cruz, the Commissioner responsible for the Police Operational Territorial Coordination Unit and Antonio Rico, the Regional President of the Red Cross. The Commissioner stressed that

“The substantial increase in migratory pressure in Spain via the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands is a challenge that we must meet together, Spain and the European Union. This is a European challenge and we need European solidarity”.

At a press conference with Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior, and Ángel Víctor Torres, President of the Canary Islands Government, Johansson highlighted the pillars of the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum.

“The situation in the Canary Islands shows the importance of implementing the principles of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum: managing migration jointly with solidarity and shared responsibility, allowing us to work flexibly and adapt to continually evolving challenges”.

In addition to the above-mentioned visits, the Commissioner held meetings with regional and local authorities.