The conservative Spanish VOX party has called for authorities in the Canary Islands to investigate the Open Arms rescue ship, accusing it of helping bring illegal migrants into the EU and demanding its operations be suspended if irregularities are found.
The party filed a formal complaint with the Maritime Captaincy of the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife against the vessel, which patrols the African coast and collects migrants to bring them into Europe. VOX is requesting that the ship’s licenses, technical conditions, and activities be inspected and suspended if any violations are discovered.
The move comes after a debate in the Canary Islands parliament, where VOX was the only party to oppose a motion supporting the taxpayer-funded NGO of the same name that owns the vessel. All other parties, from the regional government and the opposition, backed the initiative.
VOX deputy Nicasio Galván argued that Open Arms “does not take those rescued to the nearest safe port” but instead brings them to Europe, making the vessel “just another link” in the migrant trafficking chain. VOX maintains that the NGO’s operations encourage migrant departures from North Africa and fuel a lucrative illegal migration industry.
Tensions escalated when Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo labeled Galván a “fascist,” a term the chamber accepted as a “valid definition.” VOX denounced this as an attempt at censorship and reiterated its opposition to the political establishment’s support for Open Arms.
Beyond the parliamentary dispute, VOX also criticized public funding for the NGO. According to official data, Open Arms received public funds for educational projects in the Canary Islands, including €30,000 earmarked for youth activities.
The Spanish government has announced that it will deliver workshops in reception centers for unaccompanied foreign minors to explain how to request asylum. For VOX, this shows that the State is not only financing the reception of migrants but is also helping them stay in Europe permanently.
Although the confrontation has occurred in the Canary Islands, the party insists it affects all of Europe. The islands form part of the European Union’s external border, and landings there give migrants direct entry into the Schengen area.
In remarks to europeanconservative.com, Galván warned that “an NGO that facilitates illegal immigration into Europe is being legitimized,” without raising any alarms. “This vessel is operating freely along all the Canary Islands’ coastlines, with the approval and funding of the Canary Islands Government and state aid,” he said.
