Spain and Canary Islands Authorities Reach New Agreement to Fight Illegal Migration
The agreement was reached during the first day of Escriva’s trip to the Canary Islands, while he announced an immediate and structural reinforcement of the Social Security workforce on the Islands, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
The Minister considered the agreement as a recognition of the unique effort of the Canary Islands in terms of migration while adding that the resources can be used in the care of unaccompanied minors, in actions in the field of education and health, as well as in work with the countries of origin of the migrants.
“In the next European budget cycle, the European Funds for Asylum, Migration, and Integration (FAMI) will be able to allocate significant amounts to the expenses of the Government of the Canary Islands in the care of unaccompanied minors, thanks to the joint work [of the Spanish and Canarian governments] with the European authorities,” José Luis Escrivá added during his speech.
The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration said that a new plan that would include the reinforcement with over 80 additional troops would also be introduced soon in order to increase social security in the staff offices.
“One in five Canarians has their purchasing power guaranteed by the Government, with measures such as the revaluation of pensions according to the CPI, which reaches the more than 300,000 pensioners on the islands, or increases of 15 percent in the Minimum Vital Income and in Non-Contributory Benefits, which benefit another 100,000 people,” the Minister pointed out.
Authorities in the Canary Islands have continuously recorded a large number of migrants who attempt to enter the country in an unlawful way while they are continuously working on the matter in order to find an effective solution.
Recently, the government of the Canary Islands estimated that about 1,000 migrants lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean, attempting to reach the Spanish islands, based on the figures provided by the UN group Missing Migrants.
The same showed that for a period from January until August this year, a total of 10,637 migrants reached the Canary Islands, or more than 14 per cent compared to the figures of the same period last year, according to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. However, the same shows that the total number of incoming boats has marked a 3.3 per cent decrease.
