The Canary Islands face a new challenge with the designation of Ángel Víctor Torres as president of the Commission for the Outermost Regions (ORs) of Europe, which also becomes a real opportunity for the islands.
In our Archipelago we are aware that the relationship with Europe is fundamental. We see it daily in the support received by our workers in the field through the complementary aid they receive, and it is also noticeable in the economic support that the island of La Palma also receives at this time as a result of the volcanic eruption.
Established for the first time in 1995, the Conference of Presidents of the ORs brings together the highest representatives of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal) and the Canary Islands with the aim of monitoring the integration of the outermost regions into the Community framework and defending their specificities in the European integration process.
Now, the Canary Islands assume the leadership of the Conference and become the interlocutor of the nine ORs of Spain, France and Portugal before the European institutions.
But it is also time to take advantage of the leadership of President Pedro Sánchez before the rest of the member countries of the Union in order to ensure that Europe responds to the needs of our country in general and of our territory, its southern border, in particular.
Ángel Víctor Torres has already stressed that he will continue to promote the work led by Spain in European energy policy and, from there, assume the challenges posed by this period with a deep sense of commitment to the strengthened dialogue with the European Commission, with the Parliament and with the States.
This will allow us to take the reins of important challenges for the coming year with the coincidence of the Spanish Presidency in the second semester. It is a great opportunity, without a doubt, for the Canary Islands, both in terms of international visibility and leadership, and to advance in matters of vital importance for our territory.
The joint work between Torres and Sánchez and their good harmony will allow the ORs to have the prominence they deserve in a Europe that continues to be built, leading the work we have been doing for some time in the Canary Islands, to respond to transcendental issues such as environmental sustainability or digital transformation.
They will set the path that the different States and the ORs must follow, far from the positions of political groups that, like the PP, fail to connect with European times and that row, even against, the rest of the European conservative countries. Their anti-European positions put at risk the position of the Canary Islands and Spain before the European Commission.
This Presidency of Torres will allow the Canarians to raise the proposals we have made to achieve the exemption of the tax on kerosene for maritime and air transport, which is key to ensure connectivity and transport of goods for the Outermost Regions, but moving towards renewable and clean energies.
The period that begins also encourages us to reinforce the common position in the face of the migratory phenomenon that affects our territories as the most distant borders of the European Union. It will allow us to continue demanding that the EU, in the Pact on Migration and Asylum, contemplate the singularities of the outermost regions so that there is a shared management in these most distant territories, which are the southern border of Europe, and a specific treatment for unaccompanied migrant minors.
In addition, the collaboration between the governments of Spain and the Canary Islands, together with the involvement of the European Parliament, have been key for an OR to be considered for the first time as a candidate to host a European institution. There is increasing support for the European Tourism Agency to come to the Canary Islands and promote a European tourism policy that is sensitive to the needs of the outermost regions.
With Ángel Víctor Torres and Pedro Sánchez it will be possible to ensure that the ORs have the prominence they deserve in the new Europe that is being built, leading a period that will be key to demonstrate how important we are for Europe.
