The senator of the Popular Party (PP) for Ibiza and Formentera, Miquel Jerez, has expressed his “concern and disappointment” over the outcome of the recent visit by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to Algeria, pointing to the absence of effective agreements between the two countries to address the migration crisis. Jerez stressed that the remarks made by the Secretary of State for Security, Aina Calvo, who admitted in the Senate last Monday that “there are no agreements with Algeria”, demonstrate that “the Spanish Government has failed in its attempt to curb the massive arrival of migrants, especially to the Balearic Islands”,
The migratory route linking Algeria with Ibiza is one of the most active in Europe and, according to Jerez, is affecting the Balearic Islands in a particularly serious way. “If there is no serious migration policy or a clear strategy, the Balearic Islands is completely unprotected”, he said, noting that the region is the hardest hit by the arrival of boats from North Africa. Particularly worrying, he added, is the arrival of unaccompanied minors, since—aside from the human tragedy involved—the island councils are responsible for their guardianship. In Formentera, he warned, this situation even threatens the financial stability of its Consell-Ajuntament.
Criticism of the lack of concrete results
The PP senator described the Interior Ministry’s previous announcements, which suggested progress in negotiations with Algeria, as “propaganda” and regretted that these promises have not translated into tangible results. “The Government has used an official trip to fabricate a narrative that crumbles within days. Immigration should not be used for propaganda. This is about protecting our borders, strengthening our security forces and preventing the mafias from continuing to use the Algerian route as a gateway to Europe”, Jerez said.
Failure in diplomacy with Algeria
Jerez also argued that the absence of effective agreements with Algeria highlights the failure of the foreign policy of Pedro Sánchez’s Government. According to the senator, Algeria is unwilling to accept migrant returns and the joint mechanisms needed to manage migration flows are not being activated. “Spanish diplomacy has lost weight, negotiating capacity and authority”, Jerez said, adding that the lack of agreements prevents the implementation of deterrent policies in the countries of origin. “For Algeria, the Sánchez Government is no longer credible”, he concluded.
Marga Prohens’ call to Brussels and the absence of Frontex in the Balearic Islands
The senator also supported the recent appeal by the president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, who has called in Brussels for Frontex, the European border agency, to intervene on the Algerian migratory route. Jerez lamented that the central government has neither backed this request nor exerted the necessary diplomatic pressure to ensure that the Balearic Islands are designated a priority area for European border surveillance.
“It is incomprehensible that, while boats are sinking in our waters and people are missing, Frontex does not have a permanent deployment here”, Jerez said, adding that what is missing is not tools but “political will” to act.
Consequences of the lack of action
In his address, Jerez noted that tragedies such as the recent shipwrecks in Balearic waters are the direct consequence of the lack of agreements and of an effective migration policy. “They have arrived late—far too late. These are the real consequences of not having agreements, not having a foreign policy and not having a European presence in the Balearic Islands”, the senator said.