The Vice President and Minister of Presidency, Antònia Maria Estarellas, has sent a letter to Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, requesting an urgent meeting to address the migration emergency currently affecting the Balearic Islands.

Estarellas warns that the archipelago is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis due to the sharp increase in small boat arrivals from Algeria. So far in 2025, 4,797 people have arrived, including 1,500 in August alone, representing a 77% increase compared to last year. Formentera, given its proximity to the Algerian coast, bears the greatest pressure, with nearly half of all landings overwhelming its basic services.

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The Balearic Government urges Marlaska for more resources and coordination to address the migration crisis

She also recalled the human tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean, which she described as a “cemetery”: more than 40 migrants have died in Balearic waters this year, and 15 more remain missing after shipwrecks.

One of the most pressing challenges is the reception of unaccompanied minors. Island councils are currently responsible for 682 children, over 300 of them arriving in 2025, which represents an over-occupation rate of more than 1,000%. Despite this, Royal Decree 743/2025 sets the ordinary capacity for the Balearics at 406 places, while the central government still intends to relocate an additional 50 minors from other regions.

Estarellas also stressed the shortage of security forces, estimating a deficit of around 500 officers in both the Guardia Civil and National Police. Although the Balearic Government has introduced tax incentives, salary supplements and social housing allocations to attract personnel, she warned that “without decisive support from the Ministry of the Interior, we will not be able to cope with this situation.”

Therefore, the Balearic Government is calling for:

• An immediate increase in Guardia Civil and National Police officers across the islands.
• Specific reinforcements for Formentera: a SIVE radar, permanent Salvamento Marítimo presence, and more reception resources.
• Direct coordination channels with the Interior Ministry.
• A formal request to the EU for the deployment of Frontex in Balearic waters.

The letter concludes by urging Marlaska to hold a formal meeting to agree on “effective, humane and structural” solutions and to strengthen institutional cooperation on a challenge that involves all levels of government.