The Spanish government is considering transforming Ciudad Real’s unused airport into a Centre for Emergency Reception and Referral to help process the growing number of asylum applications.
The proposed reception centre would primarily serve migrants arriving at Spanish coasts, particularly in regions such as Alicante, Almería, Murcia, and the islands of the Balearic and Canary archipelagos.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration has stated that Ciudad Real’s airport, with its marginal current use, is a practical location for such a facility. However, the project is still in the early stages, and its feasibility is under review.
Local authorities raise concerns about reception centre
While the government sees the plan as a solution to an overstretched asylum system, local authorities in Castilla-La Mancha, where the airport is located, have expressed strong opposition. The region’s president, Emiliano García-Page, has criticised the proposal, arguing that the area lacks the infrastructure and services needed to provide dignified support for migrants. He warned that establishing such a centre would create a “social ghetto.”
Francisco Cañizares, the mayor of Ciudad Real, has also voiced his concerns, stating that the isolation of the airport from essential services would make it resemble “a concentration camp.”
Strain on Spain’s migration system
Spain has seen a significant rise in irregular arrivals this year, particularly along the perilous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands. In July and August alone, more than 6,000 people arrived by boat, with over 4,000 arriving in September. Tragically, over 700 people have gone missing attempting the crossing in the first seven months of 2024, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by migrants.
The Spanish government’s asylum system is struggling to cope with the surge in applications. In response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a series of reforms aimed at speeding up the asylum process and increasing the capacity of reception centres.
A broader European debate
Migration remains a hot topic both in Spain and across Europe. Sánchez has urged the European Union to fast-track the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, which was approved earlier this year. This would include new tools for border control and a migrant distribution mechanism across EU member states, slated to come into effect by summer 2025.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested relocating migrants whose asylum claims are rejected to centres outside the EU, a proposal seen as an attempt to appease nations seeking stricter immigration controls.
Also read: Spain seeks EU support in the migrant crisis