Spanish lawmakers have approved a plan to relocate thousands of underage migrants from overcrowded youth centres in the Canary Islands and other outposts to mainland regions, aiming to ease pressure on areas facing high migration flows.
Spanish lawmakers approved on Thursday a plan to relocate thousands of underage migrants staying in cramped youth centres, mainly on the Canary Islands, to the rest of the country as its outposts struggle to cope with higher migration flows.
The seven Spanish islands off northwestern Africa's Atlantic coast host more than 6,000 migrant minors and the North African enclave of Ceuta over 800, living in overcrowded centres in substandard conditions.
The Canarian archipelago is still struggling to absorb an all-time migration peak from 2024, although irregular migration has slowed down by 28% this year.
Under-18s who migrate alone to Spain are entitled to government protection and aid by law.
The number of children and teenagers arriving in Spain without their parents or tutors more than doubled over the last three years, according to Regional Minister Angel Victor Torres.
"It's a humanitarian issue, but also an opportunity. These children will be part of our economic structure, of our labour, social and cultural potential in the future. Let us invest in their future, because their future will be everyone's future," he told the lower house.
The plan, which according to Youth Minister Sira Rego could begin this summer, takes into account several factors such as each region's population, per capita income and unemployment. It also factors in how many migrants under 18 every region already handles.
Spain's 17 regions had to detail by the end of March how many underage migrants they have under their care and how many they can assist, so the ministry could calculate how to redistribute them.
"Today it's Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands, but tomorrow it could be any other territory," Torres said.
The Atlantic route is especially dangerous, as the ocean's rough weather can easily capsize the fragile rafts, pirogues and dinghies used by most migrants.
The government of Bangladesh has ordered tax and customs officials to immediately end a two-day nationwide strike that has paralysed tax operations, including customs services at the country’s key trade gateway, Chittagong Port.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz of losing common sense over their stance on Russia, also calling Kyiv a "Nazi regime".
Over a third of Tuvalu's population has applied for Australia's climate visa, as rising sea levels threaten to submerge the Pacific nation within decades.
A data transmission failure at Milan's Area Control Center has suspended over 300 flights across northwest Italy since Saturday evening.
Fourteen militants were killed in a security operation following a deadly suicide bombing on a military convoy in northwest Pakistan that left 13 soldiers dead.
Protesters braved extreme heat in Seville on Sunday to call for debt relief, fairer taxation, and climate action on the eve of a major UN summit on global development.
An early-season heat wave pushed temperatures above 40°C across Europe over the weekend triggering red alerts and wildfire warnings.
A currency conversion glitch at Norway’s state gambling company led thousands of Eurojackpot winners to believe they had won massive prizes—until the mistake was corrected.
Blue Origin launched six passengers into space aboard New Shepard, completing an 11-minute sub-orbital flight that crossed the Kármán Line.
Israel has told residents in northern Gaza to evacuate ahead of intensified military action, as U.S. President Donald Trump says a ceasefire deal with Hamas is being negotiated.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
A sweeping tax-cut and spending bill backed by President Donald Trump is advancing through the U.S. Senate, setting the stage for a high-stakes legislative push that could reshape America’s fiscal landscape for years to come.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid on Sunday, focusing on enhanced military cooperation, joint defense production, and Ukraine’s bid to begin European Union accession talks.
Protesters braved extreme heat in Seville on Sunday to call for debt relief, fairer taxation, and climate action on the eve of a major UN summit on global development.
An early-season heat wave pushed temperatures above 40°C across Europe over the weekend triggering red alerts and wildfire warnings.
A currency conversion glitch at Norway’s state gambling company led thousands of Eurojackpot winners to believe they had won massive prizes—until the mistake was corrected.
Protesters braved extreme heat in Seville on Sunday to call for debt relief, fairer taxation, and climate action on the eve of a major UN summit on global development.
An early-season heat wave pushed temperatures above 40°C across Europe over the weekend triggering red alerts and wildfire warnings.
A currency conversion glitch at Norway’s state gambling company led thousands of Eurojackpot winners to believe they had won massive prizes—until the mistake was corrected.
Blue Origin launched six passengers into space aboard New Shepard, completing an 11-minute sub-orbital flight that crossed the Kármán Line.
Israel has told residents in northern Gaza to evacuate ahead of intensified military action, as U.S. President Donald Trump says a ceasefire deal with Hamas is being negotiated.
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