The Parliament of the Canary Islands today hosted the meeting of the Migration Working Group of the Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), thus fulfilling the commitment made by the president of the House, Astrid Pérez, that the Canary Islands lead the debate and reflection on the migration crisis in Europe.
The conference, which was attended by the rest of the presidencies of European parliaments as well as experts in migration policies and International and European Union Law, addressed issues such as the future application of the Migration and Asylum Pact, policies for regulating and distributing migrants, and the role of Frontex in rescuing people. During the opening ceremony, President Astrid Pérez recalled "the serious migration crisis we are suffering in the Archipelago, the humanitarian drama and the great work carried out by institutions and NGOs to face this challenge", while thanking all the participants for "their valuable technical contributions that should serve to ensure that the new migration and asylum policies of the European Union take into account the migratory reality of the Canary Islands."
"It is important that the Canary Islands have a voice in Europe and with these meetings we intend not only to make visible but also to raise awareness among member states about what is happening in the islands," Pérez remarked. The president of the Assembly of Murcia, Visitación Martínez, also stated that "although the Murcia region has always been supportive, the truth is that our juvenile centers are currently at 200 percent of their capacity and completely overwhelmed, which shows the need for a fair and equitable distribution throughout the Spanish territory." After the panel discussion with the presidencies of the rest of the European parliaments, it was agreed to prepare a document with the conclusions provided by the participants, which will be taken to the next plenary session of the CALRE.
"Let's Talk about Migration" Under the title "Let's Talk about Migration", the work program of the CALRE migration group has included four presentations and two panel discussions.
* The implementation and future application of the Migration and Asylum Pact in the context of the current situation of increased arrivals of migrants by Joana Abrisketa Uriarte. Professor of International Law and European Union Law at the University of Deusto.
* Policies for regulating the transit and distribution of migrants in the European Union by Claudia María Hofmann. Professor of Public Law and European Social Law at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder).
* The Role of FRONTEX in the rescue and salvage of people in danger at sea by Agustín Barroso Núñez. Interim Director of the Regional Coordination Center of the Canary Islands (CCRC).
* The Migration and Asylum Pact and future possibilities of voluntary mechanisms for the distribution of migrants among Member States by Carlos Fernández. Advisor in the European Parliament for Borders, Migration and Asylum and negotiator of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The panel discussions focused on The Management of the reception of minors. Integration in the Canary Islands and Europe of minors who come from social and cultural environments different from the European one, which included the participation of Indira Carballo Padrón, Civil Protection Volunteer in El Hierro and host family of migrants; Cheikh Tidiane Diop, intercultural mediator and worker of Asociación Solidaria Mundo Nuevo in a juvenile center; Lucas A. Pérez Martín, Professor of Private International Law at the ULPGC; and David Melián Castellano, Lawyer specializing in children on the move.
The debate with the presidents of the European parliaments included the participation of Marta Fernández Martín (Aragón); Antonio Gazzellone (Lazzio Italy); Luis García (Azores); María José González Revuelta (Cantabria); María Visitación Martínez (Murcia)