Nine MEPs from the EP’s Civil Liberties Committee are travelling to the Canary Island to gather first-hand information on the challenges that arrivals from the West African route create for migrant reception centres and authorities, and explore ways to support the affected regions.
The delegation will meet with representatives of local, regional and national administrations, as well as law enforcement and the judiciary. They will also meet with international organisations, EU agencies and NGOs operating on the island.
Led by the chairman of the Freedoms Committee, Javier Zarzalejos (EPP, Spain), the delegation is composed of:
Official members
- Dolors Montserrat (EPP, Spain)
- Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spain)
- Cecilia Strada (S&D, Italy)
- Nicolas Bay (ECR, France)
- Fabienne Keller (Renew, France)
Spanish accompanying members
- Gabriel Mato (EPP)
- Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE)
- Diego Solier (ECR)
Media briefings
The head of the delegation and chairman of the European Parliament’s Freedoms Committee, Javier Zarzalejos, will hold a press conference on Tuesday 27 May at 18:00 local time at the Parador de El Hierro (Las Playas, 15, 38910 Valverde, El Hierro).
The day before, on Monday 26th May, at 17h local time, there will be a press point so that the media can take pictures of the arrival and reception of the delegation at the La Restinga dock.
Context
According to data published by the European agency Frontex, arrivals via the West African route, which connects with the Canary Islands, increased by 18% in 2024, with almost 47 000 people. The latest figures for 2025 are available here.
The visit of MEPs to El Hierro comes ahead of the start of the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted in May 2024. The European Commission adopted in June 2024 a plan to support Member States. Full implementation of the new rules is planned for mid-2026.
More information: European Parliament
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