The Partido Popular has called for the appearance of Spain's Secretary of State for Security, Aina Calvo, before the Joint Commission on Insularity to explain the government's response to irregular migration in the Balearic Islands.

The request was announced on Friday, September 25, during a press conference held beside the area in es Cap, Formentera, where numerous migrant boats are stored.

The PP delegation included Balearic senator Miquel Jerez, Congress spokesman José Vicente Marí Bosó and Formentera PP president Hugo Martínez. They said they want the State Secretary to provide information on measures against people-smuggling networks, irregular migration and the resources available to the security forces operating in the islands.

PP calls for more police and Guardia Civil resources

The party used the appearance to argue that the number of arrivals has increased significantly and that Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil require additional personnel and resources.

Marí Bosó said the situation required more officers and equipment, arguing that security personnel should not be expected to manage increasing demands with fewer resources.

These statements represent the PP's assessment of the situation and its position on the government's migration policy.

The party also said the request for Calvo's appearance follows previous calls for the Spanish Government to provide reports concerning the risk of further increases in irregular migration to the Balearic Islands.

PP cites increase in arrivals

During the press conference, Marí Bosó cited figures that he said showed an increase from around 250 irregular migrants in 2018 to approximately 8,000 across 2025 and 2026.

The figure was presented by the PP as evidence of what it describes as a significant increase in arrivals to the Balearic Islands. It should not be interpreted as an independently verified annual figure for either Formentera or the whole of 2026 without reference to the underlying official dataset.

The wider situation is documented by the Balearic Government, which reported in July that more than 11,000 people had arrived by boat in the islands over a period of around a year and a half. The Govern described the route as having developed from occasional arrivals into a structural migration challenge.

Formentera figure of 2,700 arrivals

Senator Miquel Jerez said Formentera had received around 2,700 people arriving by boat during 2026.

He compared that figure with the island's resident population of approximately 12,000 people and argued that the arrivals were placing significant pressure on local resources.

The 2,700 figure is a figure cited by Jerez during the PP press conference. I have not found an official government source independently confirming that exact Formentera total, so it should be treated as a political statement rather than an established official statistic.

Recent arrivals are nevertheless continuing. On September 22, Guardia Civil officers intercepted 29 people of Maghrebi origin in Formentera in two separate operations.

More than 250 minors under Formentera's protection

The pressure on the island's social services is independently documented.

The Consell de Formentera said earlier this month that it was currently responsible for around 250 minors under its protection and had reached 305 at periods of peak demand.

On September 9, the island government approved recognition of €3.17 million in expenditure for services involving the care, residential accommodation and protection of minors during 2026. It said the increase in the number of minors had already exceeded its original financial and service forecasts.

The Consell also said it had received a direct €10 million subsidy from the Balearic Government to provide the necessary budget coverage for outstanding services.

The wider Balearic situation

The debate in Formentera forms part of a wider discussion over irregular migration across the Balearic Islands.

The Govern said in July that more than 11,000 people had arrived by boat in the islands during the previous year and a half, while around 880 minors had entered the islands' protection system.

The regional government described the situation as a structural migration reality and called for a specific response from the Spanish State.

Formentera has faced particular pressure because of its small population and the responsibilities assumed by its island administration for the protection of unaccompanied minors.

Financial pressure on the Consell

The impact on the island administration has also been reflected in its finances.

The Consell said in September that the number of minors under its protection had caused the original forecasts for care and expenditure to be exceeded. By the first half of 2026, the institution said the initially available budget had already been surpassed.

The €3.17 million recognised by the September plenary relates to services already provided for the care and protection of minors during 2026.

The Consell has said that the additional €10 million from the Balearic Government provides the budgetary coverage needed to meet these obligations.

PP asks the government to assume its responsibilities

Jerez argued that immigration and border protection are responsibilities of the Spanish State and said island councils and municipalities are increasingly dealing with the consequences.

He called for a stronger state response to the arrival of irregular migrants and for additional resources for the island.

Marí Bosó similarly called for what he described as a more organised migration policy focused on combating people-smuggling networks and preventing people from undertaking dangerous sea crossings.

These are the PP's political positions and should be distinguished from the government's own assessment of migration policy.

Human cost of the crossings

The PP also referred to figures from the NGO Caminando Fronteras concerning deaths on the western Mediterranean route from Algeria.

Marí Bosó cited the organisation's figure of 507 deaths during the first five months of 2026, which he said represented a 54% increase compared with the same period of 2025.

The figure concerns the wider Algerian route in the western Mediterranean and should not be interpreted as the number of deaths specifically connected to Formentera.

A continuing debate over resources

The latest political intervention comes after months of debate over how the Balearic Islands should respond to increased boat arrivals and the growing number of unaccompanied minors requiring protection.

Formentera has already taken additional financial measures to maintain care services, while the Balearic Government has called for greater state involvement in addressing the wider migration situation.

The PP is now seeking a formal appearance by Secretary of State for Security Aina Calvo before the Joint Commission on Insularity.

The proposed appearance would provide an opportunity for the government to explain its current measures concerning border security, irregular migration and the resources available to the security forces in the Balearic Islands.