EU to allocate €14 million help Canary Islands host migrants

The European Union is set to allocate €14 million to the Canary Islands to enhance their capacity to accommodate migrants.

The EU says the aim of the scheme is to “strengthen the safeguarding of our external border through the Canary Islands”, which has seen a surge in migrant arrivals from West Africa.

It follows a similar payment of €20 million from the European Union to the Spanish archipelago made in March.

Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas made the announcement while on a visit to the islands, where he met with President Fernando Clavijo Batlle.

Schinas has stressed that “the Canary Islands are not alone” in dealing with the situation, while emphasising the “enormous pressure” faced by the Canarian institutions and society.

He also highlighted the need to support “those who arrive in a situation of greater vulnerability, such as children.”

The scheme will aim to improve the level of assistance given to unaccompanied minors through the European Asylum Agency, which aims to increase co-operation between European members states on asylum.

Schinas is planning to visit temporary centres set up for these migrants in both Tenerife and El Hierro.

In a press release, the local government of the Canary Islands thanked the EU for its assistance, maintaining it wanted to treat those arriving to the islands on irregular boats “with dignity.”

Irregular migration from West Africa to the Canary Islands via the Atlantic, the third-most-used route, has more than doubled.

Between January and August of this year the Canary Islands have recorded the arrival of 22,300 migrants – a number which is expected to increase in the coming months.