Pradales, during the pope's visit to the Canary Islands: "Advanced societies must contribute to the integration of migrants"

The President, Imanol Pradales, today highlighted the solidarity shown by the Basque Country and the Canary Islands in the face of the phenomenon of migration and defended the need to place human dignity at the centre of political action.

Pradales, who has travelled to Gran Canaria on the occasion of the visit of Pope Leon XIV, the first time in Spain, has stated that the Basque Government "has always positioned itself in solidarity with the Canary Islands" and has approached migration from the perspective of the "Basque model of reception", that is, from the dignity of people and their ability to integrate into the society of destination.

Question of the Bidasoa border

According to the Lehendakari, the situation in the Basque Country and the Canary Islands is not "objectively" the same, but the Basque Autonomous Community has also experienced difficulties in recent years, especially in the Bidasoa border and in relation to the French State.

'We act as a gateway. In recent years we have had to attend to the passage of 45,000 people from the state to northern Europe. Moreover, the closed attitude of the French authorities has caused us problems in caring for all these thousands of people, 'he explained.

Pradales believes that European societies should not be limited to mere reception,but that the integration of migrants is also essential. 

'The advanced, rich and modern European societies must help these people, both in their reception and in their integration into our societies, 'he said.

The Pope's Visit

Pope Leon XIV today criticised European migration policies and warned that 'human dignity cannot be spoken of as long as the seas are allowedto become cemeteries'.

He has also criticized the international community as "not enough to manage arrivals, distribute amounts, reinforce borders or mourn them after the deaths", as he said today in a speech at the port of Arguineguin, Gran Canaria.

Arguineguin is one of the main destinations on migration routes from Africa, where the pope has called for a "conscientious examination" of the migration drama.

In a stern speech, he said he hoped that the voice of the people who testified today at the port would reach "those responsible for making important decisions . "

"It is not enough to manage arrivals, to distribute numbers, to reinforce borders, or to mourn them when the deaths have occurred. Not only does every boat that arrives bring migrants; it also raises the question: what world have we built, if so many brothers and sisters have to take the risk of death to find life? "he said.