A European Parliament report has exposed the mounting strain on the Canary Islands' minor protection system. The findings, following a September 2025 field visit, highlight the complexities of managing migration flows, with only 8% of return decisions to Morocco being enforced and a significant number of supposed minors being reclassified as adults. DR ‹ › An initial report prepared by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, following a field visit to the Canary Islands in September 2025, revealed mounting pressure on the region's minor protection system, at a time when Morocco accepts only around 8% of the readmission requests submitted by Spain. The report noted that nearly half of the youths initially identified as unaccompanied foreign minors were later found to be adults after undergoing age assessment procedures. According to data provided by Canary Islands authorities to the European delegation, around 1,500 young migrants were subjected to age determination tests due to doubts about their declared ages, with close to 50% ultimately classified as adults. The committee described this as a major challenge for a system designed primarily to protect minors without family support. At the time of the visit, regional authorities were responsible for approximately 5,000 unaccompanied minors, about 65% of the total number registered in Spain, according to the regional government. The latter also stated that it had allocated €192 million from its own budget to manage migration-related pressures, while claiming it had not received direct funding from the €560 million granted by the European Union to Spain to reinforce its reception and asylum system. 92% of Return Decisions to Morocco Not Enforced The report highlighted significant obstacles in carrying out repatriation procedures. It stated that only 8% of Moroccan nationals in an irregular situation are readmitted by Morocco, meaning that 92% of return orders remain unenforced. European lawmakers recalled that EU legislation requires the effective implementation of deportation decisions, but acknowledged that «lack of cooperation from the country of origin makes enforcement complex or impossible in many cases». The report also referenced testimonies indicating that boats rescued within Morocco's maritime responsibility zone were not always accepted back at Moroccan ports. According to figures presented to the mission, by August 31, 2025, a total of 201 boats carrying 12,249 people had reached the Canary Islands. Spanish authorities argued that arrivals had declined by roughly 50% compared to previous years, attributing the decrease to strengthened cooperation with countries of origin and transit. The report further recorded concerns raised by residents living near reception centers, particularly in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, who cited environmental degradation and an increase in certain incidents. From a judicial perspective, the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands reported that 282 investigations were opened in 2024 in connection with irregular arrivals, and 100 more in 2025 up to the date of the visit. Of these, 97.12% were temporarily closed. The report is expected to be debated in the European Parliament as part of a broader assessment of the management of the Atlantic migration route and the capacity of reception systems to cope with sustained irregular migration flows.
