The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has stated that the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía Euroregion 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, serving as a driver of transformation, development, and competitiveness.
Moreno, who participated in Mértola (Portugal) at the handover of the Presidency of the AAA Euroregion, thanked António Ceia da Silva, President of the Coordination and Regional Development Commission of Alentejo and outgoing President of the Euroregion, for the work done during his last term and wished José Apolinário the best of luck in this new phase 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 to chaos and uncertainty, while defending the importance of greater unity among its members, without losing their values or essence, nor their determination and firmness against threats.
He asserted that thanks to the EU, countries like Spain and Portugal have achieved levels of progress, well-being, and competitiveness that would have been unthinkable otherwise, and he indicated that working together from the Euroregion «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 in driving and energizing the EU,» he added.
The Andalusian President stressed that cross-border cooperation plays a key role in creating a European consciousness as reflected 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, the Alentejo, and Andalucía.
In this sense, he highlighted that the Euroregion has a Smart Specialization Strategy until 2027 that is the best roadmap to address projects in fields with competitive advantages such as renewables, firefighting, digitalization, or sustainable tourism, as a result of public-private collaboration.
Moreno emphasized the importance of neighboring regions having the best connections to take advantage of the synergies that occur, and he referred to the blackout on April 28, regretting that days later we still do not know the causes.
Group photo of the handover of the Presidency of the AAA Euroregion held in Mértola (Portugal).
In conclusion, he reiterated that Europe cannot be built without the capillarity that regions have, and he assured that the EU is built in many ways, one of them being the institutional fluidity of regions like Alentejo, Algarve, and Andalucía, which face 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 for Territorial Cohesion of Portugal, Castro Almeida; the Mayor of Mértola, Mário Tomé; the President of the Algarve CCDR and future President of the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía Euroregion, José Apolinário; the President of the Alentejo CCDR, António Ceia da Silva; the Minister of Tourism and External Andalusia, Arturo Bernal, and the Secretary General of Global Andalusia, Enric Millo.