The Canary Islands Archipelago closely observes the migratory movements on the border between Ceuta and Morocco. The permissiveness of that authorities for hundreds of migrants to easily cross the border into Spanish territory has opened a great gap between the bilateral relations of both countries.
The strategy adopted by the African country is repeated again. “This should do open your eyes to political representatives at once. Relations with neighbors must be cordial “, he underlines. Carmelo Faleh, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. “They cannot be extortion relationships, what is Morocco repeatedly practicing“, Add.
– Ángel Víctor Torres, president of the Canary Islands, during an interview this Tuesday at the headquarters of the EFE Agency in Madrid / EFE
The President of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, he said in an interview with the EFE Agency that relations with the country that is one hundred kilometers away from the Canary Islands “they have to be urgently normalized“. And is not for less.
The feeling that the sudden opening of the borders to the Mediterranean may shift to the Atlantic haunts Faleh’s head. Although the navigation of several days in canoes and boats would make images as impressive as those of Ceuta difficult, “it is not an obstacle to think that we could witness the arrival, again, of a significant number of migrants“to the Canary Islands for the next few months.
The Council of Ministers today evaluated, among other matters, the events in Ceuta and Melilla, where there has been the irregular arrival of numerous immigrants in the last hours / Europa Press / A.Ortega. (Europa Press)
–
The importance of the political response to the border situation has been revealed in the immediate transfer of the Prime Minister to the autonomous city. Pedro Sánchez does not assume it alone. He has also demanded the direct involvement of Brussels and the Royal House. “Spain must hit the table forcefully with the Union’s partners so that the response is coordinated within the community countries “, says this professor of International Law.
The Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR) has been very critical of Morocco’s attitude. “How can Morocco play with people’s lives like this“, wondered the humanitarian organization through your Twitter account.
The organization in the Canary Islands considers that it is an example, again, of the “instrumentalization of people” by Morocco. “A more transversal approach would avoid state blackmail in that country and it would allow to develop strategies that favor legal, safe and respectful migration with people “, underlines the president of the organization in the islands, Juan Carlos Lorenzo. “There are differences in the processes in the Canary Islands and Ceuta. We are concerned about this situation because the bilateral agreement between both countries with hot returns continues to be applied.”
In the approach it coincides Daniel Arencibia, lawyer specialized in the defense of migrants. From his point of view, it is necessary to apply several premises “looking long term and the causes“to solve the repeated exoduses between Africa and the Canary Islands:”citizens living in Africa must realize that in the long term, the continent must be a better place and no worse; And that is not fixed by giving money to the elites “but by stopping depleting fishing resources and stopping selling weapons in conflict zones.
However, the difficulties involved in a change of course of these dimensions cannot be dissociated from a change of conception from Europe to Africa. “We cannot continue to trust a system that consists of giving money to semi-democratic elites. Either we focus on the needs of disadvantaged people or we will not find a solution in the medium and long term. Migration control will be done in exchange for money as long as the countries are interested; when not, it results in the situation we have today, “laments this expert lawyer in immigration matters.
The rent per capita Moroccan is 3,204 dollars compared to 29,600 in Spain. “This is one of the most unequal borders in the world,” says Arencibia. “It is obvious that there will be those who want to go to places with better income.” From the point of view of this lawyer there is only the possibility of doing it “in an orderly or disorderly manner.”
“If I am a person who lives in Senegal or Morocco and I know that Yes, after getting an engineering degree and learning French and Spanish, I will be able to enter Spain in five years, I would spend the money to train instead of giving the money to a mob“, Arencibia emphasizes.”That policy requires a job at the destination“, sentence.
–
