Gema Maldonado/Agencies
The European Union will launch in the coming weeks an operation to control irregular immigration on the African coasts from which the boats that arrive to the Canary Islands depart. This has been decided by the representatives of the 14 European countries that met last Tuesday in Madrid, under the direction of the European Border Agency.
Among the measures decided by the 14 members, is the creation of a Coordination Center of the operation in Tenerife, operation that will be directed by Spain. The government delegate in Lanzarote, Marcial Martín, considers the step taken by the European Union positive: "Spain has achieved for the first time in history that the European Union is directly involved in the phenomenon of immigration," he said this Wednesday.
The Frontex operation for Marcial Martín "does not solve the problem, which is global", and he hopes that in "the near future political actions will be introduced to the development of Africa". The Government Delegate recalled that "in recent years the EU has lived with its back to Africa" despite knowing the continent, "countries like Portugal, France, Belgium and Germany, have had colonies in Africa and the legacy they have left has not been very positive".
The operation that will be coordinated by Frontex and directed by Spain, has four boats, an airplane and a helicopter that will patrol mainly the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania. In addition, a dozen experts from different countries will work in addition to other operatives. The program will be developed in accordance with the criteria set by the National Police Force, in the work of identification and return of illegal immigrants, and by the Civil Guard in all matters relating to maritime surveillance and control.
