Political Context

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The Canary Islands are part of Spain and are an integral part of the European Union. The two capitals of the Islands are the cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The Canary Islands officially became one of Spain’s Autonomous Communities on 16th August 1982, when their Statute of Autonomy came into effect. The Islands have their own Parliament and organs of government, providing the political and social stability characteristic of an advanced democratic system.

All European Union policies apply to the Canary Islands, although because of the particular geographical features of the Islands, they enjoy a series of very favourable exceptions and adaptations in the application of European Union Law.