The European Commission announced on Thursday new funds worth 43.2 million euros to support the Canary Islands in the face of the migratory emergency, thus responding to the request made by Spain.
At the end of November, the Spanish authorities presented a formal request to Brussels to receive more funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund to address the migratory flow in the archipelago.
The aid will be used to expand temporary accommodation capacity and improve reception conditions in the area of health care, food and sanitation.
It is estimated that 20,000 people have arrived in the Canary Islands in 2020, mainly in the second part of the year. In the month of October alone, 5,300 people arrived via illegal routes, according to figures provided by Frontex.
For the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, this aid complements the "rapid measures" taken by the Spanish authorities to ensure the dignified reception of refugees. "Today we are facilitating the requested financial assistance, but we are also collaborating with partner countries such as Morocco and Mauritania on migration issues on legal pathways to the EU," said the Swedish Commissioner.
For his part, the Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, has insisted on the EU's commitment to countries receiving migrants. He explained that these funds will ensure that newcomers have their basic rights to food, medicine and accommodation covered "until they are referred to a reception facility for asylum seekers or sent back to their countries of origin".
