Illa guarantees that Catalonia will be "responsible" with the integration of minors from Ceuta

BarcelonaCommitment of the Government to the reception of minors arriving in Ceuta following the latest migratory crisis. The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, reiterated this Friday at the meeting of the Catalan executive in Os de Balaguer that Catalonia will act "with solidarity, responsibility, and rigor" in the face of the Ceuta tragedy and the need to welcome minors. Precisely for this reason, he defended the "reception capacity" of immigrants due to the "humanitarian crisis," but also emphasized the need for secure borders and clear rules. The Generalitat already made clear from the first day its open-door approach to reception, even though Catalonia would not, in principle, have to take in more unaccompanied minors because its ratio is much higher than that of most autonomous communities.

The Government's position contrasts with that of Junts, which has threatened not to vote in favor of any governmental initiative if Catalonia receives minors from Ceuta, given a system that is, in their opinion, collapsed. In turn, the PP and Vox have called for the expulsion of all minors to their countries of origin, while the Spanish government has also committed to this, but in compliance with international humanitarian law that protects the rights of minors.

In any case, Illa pointed out the "false dilemma" of having to choose between humanism and security, things that are "complementary, not contradictory," as he noted. On the other hand, he wanted to highlight that integration "is working" in the country and criticized the right and the far-right, without explicitly naming them, for "using the humanitarian drama with a short-sighted view and for their own benefit." Thus, Illa emphasized the humanitarian aspect: "Everyone seems to have forgotten that 150 people have lost their lives," he stated, defending that humanitarian sense must also prevail in politics. In his view, Catalonia has "the duty to protect the value of reception and integration."

This weekend's meetings are the fifth coexistence days held by the members of the Government. On this occasion, to prepare for the start of the political year after the summer break. The previous meetings have been at the Poblet monastery, in Vall de Núria, in Arnes, at Món Sant Benet in Sant Fruitós de Bages, and now at the Avellanes monastery in Os de Balaguer.

Taking advantage of the meeting in Os de Balaguer, Illa has signed an agreement for stable cooperation in sustainable forest management, fire prevention, and support for municipalities with the presidents of the four Catalan provincial councils, Miquel Noguer (Girona), Lluïsa Moret (Barcelona), Noemí Llauradó (Tarragona), and Joan Talarn (Lleida). Illa stressed that "in Catalonia, we will not cut a single euro in emergencies, forest management, or prevention," but rather "we are increasing technical resources, Firefighter and Rural Agent staffing, and strengthening coordination between administrations." The President of the Government explained that forest management of public forests in Catalonia will be tripled: between 2023 and 2025, 418 hectares of forest were treated per year, and in 2026, it will be 620. "We are accelerating forest management in public forests of Catalonia to achieve an average of 2,000 hectares each year," Illa pointed out, so that in 10 years, "all manageable forest hectares (17,284 hectares)" will have been acted upon.

Opposition criticism

David Cid, spokesperson for the Comuns in Parliament, has replied that the Government "has all the work to do" on education, renewable energies and housing, and has urged Illa to "move from words to deeds". For her part, the president of the Junts parliamentary group, Mònica Sales, has accused Illa of starting the course "without giving a response" to the problems of a Catalonia "that is falling apart", pointing to the collapse of infrastructure, housing or the decline of Catalan.