Marlaska highlights the role of the Canary Islands in the face of the immigration challenge and urges the MED5 to 'share that duty'

Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Maltacountries that make up the group called MED5have demanded greater cooperation from the European Union with the countries of origin and transit of migrants. This is what the Minister of the Interior of Spain said this Saturday, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during a press conference with his Italian counterparts, Matteo Piantedosi; and Malta, Byron Camilleri; the Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece, Dimitris Kairidis; and the director of the Cyprus Asylum Service, Andreas Georgiades, after holding a meeting in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

“We send a clear message of support for the Canary Islands, to its constant effort to face the migration challenge: we want to express that in this determined commitment, all of Spain is on our side, the whole of the Mediterranean countries and the entire EU,” the minister recalled, “migration It is a shared responsibility that we member states must share.

The summit, the seventh to take place since 2021 and the first outside the Mediterranean arc, has served to address and share migration policies and the fight against mafias that traffic in peopleconsisting of two work sessions: the Application of the Pact on Migration and Asylum; and the external dimension of migration and its financing.

The Minister of the Interior reminded the rest of the partners that the MED5 was born to “bring a single voice to Europe on the perspective of five countries of first entry” of migration and convey that this issue “it is a shared responsibility” which requires “the effort of the 27 members” and “responsibility and solidarity.”

Furthermore, he wanted to emphasize the pact reached in the European Parliament ten days ago, which he has classified as “historic” after “decades of disagreements” and provides a “single and effective” legislative framework for regulated migration while protecting human rights. He 'New Pact on Migration and Asylum' includes five legislative measures focused on the management of reception and relocation of asylum seekers.

In the meeting held this Saturday, Grande-Marlaska finally wanted to highlight that “the effort was worth it” and that “the full commitment with the application of that pact is transcendental for the future of Europe”.

Expand partnerships and agreements

“From Las Palmas de Gran Canaria we call on the European Commission to deepen and expand associations and agreements with third countries,” Marlaska continued.

He also made special emphasis on the fact that this is a path that has already been initiated through partnerships such as the one recently reached with Mauritania or, previously, with Tunisia, although he expressed the opinion that “there is room for improvement”.

For this reason, the MED5 indicated that the commitment must focus on the increase in European funds and agile financing instruments aimed at said cooperation.

“In this effort we want to count on the European agencies, especially with Frontexwhich can contribute significantly to the fight at source against the mafias that work with people and take advantage of their vulnerability and desperation of thousands of people,” Marlaska stated.