As the migration crisis in Spain’s Canary Islands continues, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez’ government has committed to presenting a plan within ten days to redistribute more than 4,000 unaccompanied minors (MENAs) across Spain’s 17 autonomous communities.
The ongoing crisis has reached alarming levels, with over 48,000 arrivals in 2024 alone, straining local resources and sparking heated political debates. However, critics, including the national-conservative VOX and the centre-right Partido Popular (PP), argue that Sánchez’ policies are ineffective and fail to address the root causes of illegal immigration.
The proposed redistribution plan, which aims to ease the burden on the Canary Islands, has already been met with resistance. VOX opposes any redistribution of migrants, calling it a continuation of policies that enable illegal immigration. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has criticised the idea as “short-term” and lacking a comprehensive strategy.
Regional leaders, including Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo, have urged the government to act swiftly. Clavijo has pushed for a decree law to expedite the redistribution process, arguing that the current system is unsustainable. However, Sánchez’ government faces legal hurdles and opposition from several regions that resent having to bear the burden.
VOX, the third-largest party in Spain, has been vocal about the need for stronger border controls and an end to Sánchez’ migration policies. Party leader Santiago Abascal has called for immediate measures to halt illegal immigration, arguing that the Sánchez government prioritises EU appeasement over the welfare of Spanish citizens.
In July 2024, VOX withdrew support from regional coalitions with the PP over disagreements on accepting unaccompanied minors, signalling the party’s firm stance against Sánchez’ proposals. “No one voted for us to continue the invasion of illegal immigration,” Abascal stated.
The European Union’s handling of migration issues further underscores its inconsistent approach. In September, Spain received an additional €14 million from the EU to address the Canary Islands crisis, adding to the €500 million already earmarked for migration-related expenses. Of this, €20 million is specifically allocated to the islands. Yet, these funds have had little noticeable effect.
Meanwhile, Hungary, which has successfully controlled immigration at its border, received a €200 million fine, with additional daily penalties now totalling approximately €400 million.
Hungary’s conservative government, led by Viktor Orbán, has implemented strong measures to curb illegal immigration, including border fences and transit zones. The EU has criticised these policies as violations of asylum rules, despite Hungary successfully deterring over one million illegal border crossings since 2015.
As Hungarian MEP András László pointed out, the EU’s hypocrisy is glaring: “Spain gets €14 million to deal with the migration crisis unsuccessfully, while Hungary is fined €200 million for protecting Europe’s borders.”
While the EU champions solidarity, its actions tell a different story. Hungary, which has spent over €2 billion on border protection, has received minimal EU support, while Spain’s ineffective measures continue to receive funding.
