The opinion of the commission of the Parliament of the Canary Islands that studies the demographic challenge and the population balance raises the possibility of regulating residence in the islands as one of the options to face the "unsustainable" demographic development of the archipelago.
The opinion has been approved with the votes of CC, PP, ASG and AHI, the vote against Vox and the abstention of PSOE and NC, who have announced particular votes to face the "unsustainable" demographic development of the archipelago.
The opinion highlights the high population density of the Canary Islands (301 inhabitants per square kilometer, the third highest in Spain), the unequal distribution of its 2.2 million inhabitants (95% concentrated in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, especially in coastal areas), the demographic decline in La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro or in rural areas and the pressure on resources and services due to the reception of 18 million tourists annually.
There is also talk of an "absolutely unsustainable" population growth so far this century, with an overall increase of 35% in 25 years, with percentage increases of up to 181% in Fuerteventura, 111% in Lanzarote, 37% in Tenerife and 16% in Gran Canaria.
The opinion states that there are increasingly more social mobilizations demanding a change of model due to the negative effects of tourism growth on social welfare and the environment, with problems of housing, coexistence, overcrowding, public services and inequality.
Among the more than a hundred proposals raised by the parliamentary committee, which must still be ratified by the Parliament plenary, is the possibility of regulating residence in the Canary Islands, within the community law.
Specifically, it literally states: "Study and analysis of the ways that community law offers, taking advantage of the condition of outermost region of the Canary Islands, the general interest, or the combination of both, for the adoption of population measures that generate a special right that regulates residence in the Canary Islands."
Another possibility raised by the Parliament, although conditioned, is to negotiate with the European Union "specific measures of a temporary nature" to curb demographic growth by limiting the sale of homes to foreigners not rooted in the Canary Islands.
This demand for housing by foreigners is "the source of a new speculative bubble," according to the opinion, which cites the case of countries such as New Zealand and Canada, or Denmark within the European Union, which have legislated on the matter.
"It is essential that this measure is based on the general interest, duly justified and based on the principle of proportionality," the opinion clarifies.
At the same time, the opinion conditions this possible limitation on the purchase of homes by foreigners to two prior tasks that the Canary Islands must carry out: having "promoted" public works of protected housing and having developed a plan for "the residential rental of a significant part of the more than 211,000 empty homes."
