Lola García backs measures proposed by the Canary Islands Government in response to migration emergency

Lola García, president of the Fuerteventura Island Council, has backed the proposal for extraordinary and urgent measures approved by the Canary Islands Government’s Governing Council. The regional government presented them today to the Interministerial Commission on Immigration in response to the migration pressure facing the Archipelago.

García conveyed her support at a meeting of the Canary Islands Federation of Islands (FECAI), where the island councils backed the eight extraordinary measures proposed by the Presidency and General Secretariat of the Canary Islands Government and put forward by president Fernando Clavijo.

The measures focus on strengthening emergency services, speeding up transfers and securing greater involvement from the Spanish state and the European Union in managing the Atlantic border.

García stressed “the need for the state and Europe to introduce measures to prevent a humanitarian tragedy that continues to claim lives on our shores and has been made worse by the reopening of the Atlantic route”.

“It is also essential for the competent authorities to improve the care provided to people who risk their lives to reach the Canary Islands’ shores,” García added, also emphasising the importance of solidarity between territories in sharing responsibility.

In response to the reopening of the Atlantic route, the island council president has written to the Ministry of the Interior seeking information on the current status of plans to expand the facilities at Fuerteventura’s Temporary Foreigners’ Reception Centre (CATE). She also requested information on the status and planned use of the so-called Nave del Queso in Puerto del Rosario, which is intended to house temporary reception facilities for the initial identification and assistance of migrants.