Moreno destaca la Eurorregión Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía como ejemplo de progreso en Europa
The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has stated that the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía Eurorregion constitutes a model example of construction and progress in Europe that brings together a wealth of experiences and joint work that enhance, strengthen, and give full meaning to the EU and is, in turn, a driving force for transformation, development, and competitiveness.
Moreno, who participated in Mértola (Portugal) in the handover of the Presidency of the AAA Eurorregion, thanked António Ceia da Silva, President of the Coordination and Regional Development Commission of Alentejo and outgoing President of the Eurorregion, for the work done in this last term and wished José Apolinário the best of luck in this new stage that begins.
At this point, he emphasized that the EU is more valuable and indispensable than ever and pointed out that it is the best antidote against chaos and uncertainty, while also defending the importance of greater unity among its members, without losing their values, essence, determination, and firmness against threats.
In this way, he asserted that thanks to the EU, countries like Spain and Portugal have reached levels of progress, well-being, and competitiveness that would have been unthinkable otherwise, and indicated that working together from the Eurorregion «makes us more competitive, resilient, and strong.»
«Being able to co-chair a body like the Committee of the Regions of Europe, as I have the honor to do, is a unique opportunity that we will take advantage of to emphasize the weight and role of regions and local entities for the drive and dynamism of the EU,» he added.
The Andalusian President highlighted that cross-border cooperation plays a key role in the creation of a European consciousness as stated in the Statute of Autonomy of Andalucía.
From left to right, José Apolináiro, Antonónio Ceia da Silva, and Juanma Moreno.
He stated that this cooperation has translated into progress, prosperity, employment, infrastructure, and opportunities for the Algarve, Alentejo, and Andalucía.
In this regard, he emphasized that the Eurorregion has a Smart Specialization Strategy until 2027 which is the best roadmap to, through public-private collaboration, address projects in fields where there are competitive advantages such as renewables, firefighting, digitization, or sustainable tourism.
Moreno stressed the importance of neighboring regions having the best connections to take advantage of the synergies that occur and referred to the blackout on April 28, lamenting that days later we still do not know the causes.
Family photo of the handover of the Presidency of the AAA Eurorregion held in Mértola (Portugal).
In conclusion, he reiterated that Europe cannot be built without the capillarity of the regions and assured that the EU is built in many ways, one of them being the institutional fluidity of regions like Alentejo, Algarve, and Andalucía that have common challenges and objectives ahead. «We want a strong south that can contribute progress and wealth to citizens and the EU.»
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Territorial Cohesion of Portugal, Castro Almeida; the Mayor of Mértola, Mário Tomé; the President of the CCDR of Algarve and future President of the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía Eurorregion, José Apolinário; the President of the CCDR of Alentejo, António Ceia da Silva; the Minister of Tourism and External Andalucía, Arturo Bernal, and the Secretary General of Global Andalucía, Enric Millo.
