SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28 Aug. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Appeal for Cooperation

The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has once again urged regional governments to exercise “common sense” and not hinder the implementation of legislation regarding the transfer of unaccompanied migrant minors.

Confidence in Legal Framework

During a visit to the NGO Open Arms’ ship, which has docked in Tenerife, he expressed that his administration is “confident” in the “legal robustness” of the decrees and regulatory changes. He added that the Supreme Court has supported the Canary Islands’ stance “from the very beginning.”

Addressing Demographic Challenges

Clavijo also pointed out that it is unacceptable for 5,000 minors to be viewed as “a problem” in a country with a population of 50 million. He highlighted that “Spain is burning, partly due to the issue of abandonment; there are areas within this emptied Spain,” emphasising the need for migration to support the welfare state and pension systems.

Rethinking Boundaries

“Borders are artificial, they are political,” he commented. “When borders change, a thousand years ago there was one, and 20,000 years ago there weren’t any at all. Therefore, something that humans have constructed cannot take precedence over human essence and the general interest of children.”