EU action in relation to migration pressure on the Canary Islands

Priority question for written answer P-001727/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tomas Tobé (PPE), Javier Zarzalejos (PPE), Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (PPE), Gabriel Mato (PPE), Jeroen Lenaers (PPE), François-Xavier Bellamy (PPE), Alice Teodorescu Måwe (PPE), Rasa Juknevičienė (PPE), Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (PPE), Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE), Loránt Vincze (PPE), Lukas Mandl (PPE), Emil Radev (PPE), Verena Mertens (PPE), Karlo Ressler (PPE)

More than 25 500 migrants have arrived in the Canary Islands irregularly in 2024, 123 % more than in the same period in 2023[1]. In order to maintain the integrity of the EU's external borders, the situation needs to be addressed, including through joint EU measures.

In 2022, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate status agreements with Senegal[2] and Mauritania[3], which include operational activities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). Many of the migrant boats arriving in the Canary Islands come from these countries.

Earlier this year, a migration deal that also includes Frontex activities was signed between the EU and Mauritania[4]. However, there has been no news about how the negotiations with Senegal are progressing.

Given this:

• 1.What measures is the Commission taking in response to the current situation in the Canary Islands?
• 2.Can it report any progress on migration issues with Mauritania since the signing of the agreement?
• 3.What measures is it taking to put in place an equivalent agreement with other West African countries, in particular Senegal?

Submitted: 17.9.2024

• [1] https://www.lavanguardia.com/mediterranean/20240903/9909369/arrival-irregular-migrants-canary-islands-cayuco-spain-route-mauritania-ceuta-morocco.html.
• [2] Council Decision (EU) 2022/1169 of 4 July 2022 authorising the opening of negotiations on a status agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1169/oj.
• [3] Council Decision (EU) 2022/1168 of 4 July 2022 authorising the opening of negotiations on a status agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1168/oj.
• [4] New migration partnership with Mauritania: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_1335.