The Govern and the four island councils will file a challenge against the Royal Decree approved on 22 July establishing the procedure for the reception of migrant minors. They will also request the provisional suspension of the measure that plans to start the distribution of minors from 28 August.
The President of the Govern, Margalida Prohens, together with the presidents of the island councils, explains the measures in the Balearic Islands to address the migration crisis. Photo: CAIB.
The President of the Govern, Margalida Prohens, made the announcement after meeting at the Consolat de Mar with the presidents of the councils of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés; Menorca, Adolfo Vilafranca; Eivissa, Vicente Marí; and Formentera, Óscar Portas. According to Prohens, the archipelago will act on three fronts: pressure on the central government, engagement with Europe, and legal action.
Joint strategy
Margalida Prohens emphasised the need for coordination between administrations to tackle the current migration crisis. “Administrations must coordinate strategies to provide a clear and decisive response,” she stated.
Firstly, the Govern will continue demanding from the central government a stronger fight against organised crime, more resources for the State Security Forces, and the restoration of cooperation with Algeria.
Secondly, Europe will be approached. The Balearic authorities insist on the deployment of Frontex to monitor the Balearic route. “We are the southern border of Europe and are becoming the main entry point for illegal immigration into the European Union,” warned Prohens.
A joint meeting has already been requested with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, for the end of September. The President of the Govern and the four island council presidents will participate.
Legal action
The third front will be legal. The Govern will challenge both the Royal Decree and the decree or resolution the central government plans to approve on 26 August to begin the distribution of minors. “When we say that we cannot take in any more minors it is not a question of solidarity, it is a question of capacity. Our islands are at the limit,” emphasised Prohens.
This is not the first time the regional government has turned to the courts. A challenge was previously filed against the Royal Decree modifying the Immigration Law in March, which has been admitted for consideration by the Constitutional Court.
Increasing migration pressure
So far in 2025, more than 4,700 migrants have arrived by boat on the Balearic coasts, double the number in the same period in 2024. Nearly 1,500 arrivals have been recorded in the last twenty days.
Currently, the islands host 680 migrant minors, more than 300 of them arriving this year. Capacity for reception is over 1,000%, according to the councils themselves. The Ministry of Youth and Childhood reported in March that the Balearics were already hosting 226 minors above the allocation.
The situation is worsened by the lack of available spaces and qualified professionals to care for the minors, the Govern notes.
Frontex warnings
Since 2021, Frontex has been warning about the growth of the Balearic route. In 2024, it raised the alert to medium level, and this year it is being considered to raise it to high level, which would allow operational deployment in the area.
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