On March 25, 2025, the Partido Popular (PP) took a bold step by filing a formal complaint with the European Commission, challenging the recent agreement between the Spanish Government and Junts concerning the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors (known as menas). This action comes amid growing concerns about the fairness and legality of the proposed plan.
The PP argues that the agreement violates essential principles of solidarity and proportionality, which are fundamental to the European Union's migration policies. According to their analysis, the data underscores a glaring discrepancy in how these vulnerable minors are to be allocated across regions. Catalonia, a region governed by the Socialist party and home to about 8 million people, is set to receive only between 20 and 30 of the 4,000 unaccompanied minors currently in the Canary Islands. In stark contrast, both Madrid (with approximately 7 million residents) and Andalusia (also around 8 million) would be required to accept over 700 minors each.
Dolors Montserrat, the PP's spokesperson in the European Parliament, framed the issue as a matter of equity, stating that the allocation appears to be influenced by political motivations rather than grounded in objective needs. In a parliamentary question presented alongside fellow eurodeputy Juan Ignacio Zoido, the PP has called for a thorough assessment from the European Commission regarding the legality of this arrangement, specifically questioning its adherence to Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFUE).
Montserrat pointedly remarked, "This unequal treatment reveals the partisan use of immigration by the Government, prioritizing political agreements with its separatist allies over the justice and welfare of the affected minors." She asserts that the current allocation model raises significant doubts about its compatibility with EU values concerning asylum and child protection.
As the debate surrounding the treatment of unaccompanied minors continues, Montserrat has urged the European Commission to clarify the measures it plans to implement to ensure the relocation process aligns with both EU law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Her determination to push for transparency and fairness in this process emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to the resettlement of minors.
The complaint comes at a time when immigration remains a contentious issue within Spain, further exacerbating political divides. The PP’s concerns reflect broader anxieties about equity in handling immigration crises at regional levels—especially between politically rival factions. Montserrat encapsulated the party's stance succinctly, stating, "The management of immigration cannot be a cheap trick in Sánchez's negotiations with the separatists. We firmly believe that the relocation of migrant minors in Spain must be conducted with objective and equitable criteria."
These developments signal a potential shift in how regional distributions of unaccompanied minors will be perceived and managed in the future, hinting at possible ramifications for the governing coalition between the Socialists and their separatist allies.
As this story unfolds in Brussels and beyond, it will be imperative to monitor how the European Commission responds to the PP's request for inquiry. This controversy not only highlights issues of regional governance but also raises critical questions around human rights protections for vulnerable populations like unaccompanied minors.
With immigration policy increasingly under scrutiny, the outcome of this situation may have significant implications for both political dynamics within Spain and broader EU migration strategies.
