The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), through its Working Group on Migration, held a conference in Lanzarote this Monday focused on the current challenges of migration management and the future implementation of the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, scheduled for 2026.
The President of the Parliament of the Canary Islands and of CALRE, Astrid Pérez, moderated a special video podcast alongside institutional representatives and migration experts. During her speech, Pérez underscored the importance of joint action in Europe: "Europe needs a shared and supportive response to the migratory challenge," she stated. Furthermore, she insisted that "frontline regions, such as the Canary Islands, must play a decisive role in the implementation of any European migration policy."
The meeting, held at the Castillo de San José in Arrecife, was attended by:
-Candelaria Delgado, Minister of Social Welfare of the Government of the Canary Islands.
-Mohamed Ouriaghili, Vice-President of the Parliament of Brussels.
-Juan Carlos Lorenzo, coordinator of the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid.
-Louelia Mint, lawyer specializing in immigration law. Member of the Immigration and Human Rights Commission of the Bar Association of Lanzarote.
-Antonio Tirso Ester Sánchez, professor of Legal Theory at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, author of the book "Keys to the Integral Realization of Immigrants' Rights".
In the video podcast, they analyzed key aspects such as border management, inter-institutional coordination, the situation of unaccompanied minors, and the role of European agencies like FRONTEX
The video podcast will be broadcast on Tuesday, December 2nd on the social media channels of the Calre and the Parliament of the Canary Islands.
Visit to the juvenile center:
After the recording of the video podcast, the president of CALRE, accompanied by the Minister of Social Welfare of the Canary Islands Government, Candelaria Delgado, and the participating delegation, made a private visit to an emergency center for unaccompanied minors in Lanzarote, where they were able to learn about the internal workings of the facility and the current needs arising from the increase in arrivals to the archipelago.
The center currently houses about thirty minors, although its capacity fluctuates due to continuous referrals to ensure care for new admissions. At times of greater pressure, the facility has been at double its capacity.
The team is made up of 18 professionals—including social workers, mediators, and educators—who work in rotating 24-hour shifts. It is a single-sex center, intended for men, whose main countries of origin are Morocco, New Guinea, and Ivory Coast.
During the visit, the Minister of Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado, explained the protocol that is developed from the first moment for the care and integration of minors. The minister highlighted "the need for migration in the Canary Islands, but in an orderly manner and, above all, without endangering the lives of these children."
Minors receive training in Spanish, as well as workshops and programs aimed at their labor and social integration. Furthermore, once they turn 18, they are referred to emancipation resources that allow them to continue their training process and move towards an autonomous life
