Regional governments governed by the Popular Party (PP) have submitted detailed documents and proposals to the central government ahead of the upcoming Presidents' Conference scheduled for Friday in Barcelona.

The regional leaders aim to avoid a repeat of the previous conference in Santander, where the documentation presented was limited to a blank page.

One of the key points in the submitted documents is a call for the declaration of a 'migration emergency' across the nation.

This declaration would enable the activation of extraordinary resources and expedite the procedures for the reception of immigrants, a situation that the regional leaders deem urgent due to the increase in irregular arrivals in recent months.

Additionally, the PP's regional governments are requesting the creation of a specific 'contingency fund' for the care of unaccompanied foreign minors (known as MENAs), alongside the repurposing of unused state infrastructure to adequately accommodate and care for these minors.

The regional administrations have rejected the 'decreetazo' related to the distribution of MENAs while expressing solidarity with regions such as the Canary Islands and Ceuta.

They demand that the government take responsibility for over 1,000 minors seeking asylum, as mandated by a recent ruling from Spain’s Supreme Court.

The document also emphasizes the need for an immediate increase in material and human resources at the most sensitive borders, particularly in the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.

The proposal includes a request for increased personnel from both the National Police and the Civil Guard at these critical points, along with enhanced logistical and technological resources to ensure the custody and surveillance of the borders.

Moreover, the regional governments advocate for the central government to request assistance from the European Union for the deployment of Frontex and the European Asylum Agency in the most affected territories—a request that has met with resistance from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government over the past year.

The PP argues that without EU support, the situation has escalated to what they describe as an 'overwhelmed humanitarian emergency'.

There is also a proposal aimed at streamlining administrative processes related to migration management.

This includes increasing staffing in asylum offices to expedite processing times for international protection applications as well as return procedures.

The regional authorities also urge the government to review and enhance cooperation agreements with countries of origin and transit, such as Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania, for more effective returns and closer international collaboration.

Following the discussion of these proposals, the PP's regional governments are seeking a vote on the resolution proposals during the Presidents' Conference.

The submission comes amid heightened tensions between the PP-coalition regions and the central government, as a preparatory committee meeting last week ended without agreement, highlighting significant friction due to the central government’s refusal to vote on the proposals from the 13 PP-led autonomous communities.

The regional administrations convened over the weekend to formulate a common strategy, asserting they would seek judicial intervention if their proposals are not included on the agenda, accusing the government of holding an 'illegal' summit designed for mere 'Sanchista propaganda' instead of substantive debate.

The PP insists that the summit should address major challenges affecting the regions and should not solely be confined to topics proposed by Moncloa.

To this end, the PP has prepared a package of eight crucial proposals for meaningful discussion during the Presidents' Conference.

Regulations governing the Presidents' Conference stipulate that if at least ten autonomous communities request it, a point must be included in the agenda.

The PP is advocating for a 'revamped format' different from the last failed summit held in Santander last December.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the PP, expressed satisfaction at having altered the agenda to include their demands, criticizing the government for wanting to restrict discussions to housing and higher education, thereby transforming the summit into a 'monologue' rather than a genuine forum for debate and proposal voting.

The selection of the Palacio de Pedralbes in Barcelona as the conference venue also adds a symbolic and political dimension to the meeting, particularly as it is the same location where Pedro Sánchez admitted to a so-called 'political conflict' between Spain and Catalonia in December 2018, which later led to measures such as the pardons and the amnesty law related to the _procés_.

The PP contends that the choice of Barcelona is intended to whitewash what they describe as illegitimate agreements between the PSOE and Catalan separatists.

For the first time in the history of these conferences, Moncloa will provide translation devices to allow interventions in Basque and Catalan by regional leaders Imanol Pradales and Salvador Illa.

This gesture has been perceived by the PP as another symbolic action contributing to the government's 'propaganda staging'.

In the days leading up to the summit, the president sent a letter to regional leaders proposing that the conference focus on advancing a major housing pact, aimed at coordinating access to housing and promoting affordable rental policies, alongside discussions on higher education.

However, the PP has articulated concerns that any consensus reached may become ineffective due to the absence of a General Budget.