MADRID, Spain: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged the European Union to expedite the implementation of new rules on handling irregular migration and asylum seekers, aiming for enforcement by 2025, a year earlier than scheduled.
His call comes in response to the sharp rise in migrant arrivals in Spain’s Canary Islands, which have more than doubled compared to the previous year.
The new EU rules, initially set for 2026, focus on distributing responsibilities for asylum seekers across the bloc and speeding up deportations for those who do not qualify. Sanchez emphasized the importance of “co-responsibility and solidarity” from all EU nations, particularly in managing the migratory flows affecting Mediterranean countries.
The Canaries, currently overwhelmed with around 5,500 unaccompanied migrant minors despite only having the capacity to care for 2,000, are experiencing increased pressure. With immigration becoming the top concern for Spanish voters, Sanchez’s push aims to alleviate the strain on Spain and other Mediterranean countries by accelerating the enforcement of these EU regulations.
This call for action comes as Hungary and the Netherlands seek opt-outs from the bloc’s asylum rules, further complicating the EU’s approach to the ongoing migration crisis.
