The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has advocated for consolidating cooperation, promoting transatlantic relations, expressing the interest of Atlantic regions at the highest level in EU policies and funding programs, and making the Atlantic macro-region a reality. He has emphasized that all these issues are important in the face of challenges such as the search for new sources of energy, the threat of high tariffs, and the uncertainty generated at a global level, not forgetting the serious conflicts shaking the world.
During his intervention in the closure of the first Day of the Atlantic Arc Commission held in Seville, he has stressed the leading role that regions must play and their presence in decision-making processes because, as he has stated, «being regions allows for close contact with citizens and their concerns and because international decisions affect them.»
In this way, he has pointed out that Atlantic regions have several strengths such as Andalucía’s historical role in maritime trade with America, Africa, and Asia as demonstrated by the importance of ports like Algeciras, Liverpool, or Bordeaux. He has also highlighted the Andalusian community’s capacity for developing renewable energies and ensuring Europe’s autonomy.
At this point, he has referred to the Mercosur agreement signed last December, which will create the world’s largest free trade zone and is an opportunity for Atlantic regions to open the door to new markets and boost relations not only on both sides of the ocean. «For all these common challenges and opportunities, Andalucía offers its strengths,» he added.
In this regard, he has asserted that Andalucía can share its experience of Atlantic cooperation, which is based on Portugal with the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía Euroregion for projects in the blue economy, mobility, sustainability, and economic development; with Ibero-America with which it maintains strong cultural, economic, and historical ties; in the southern hemisphere of the Atlantic, where it is in negotiations with the Chilean Maule region for a collaboration agreement, and with Morocco with whom it shares Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.
The Andalusian President has highlighted the geostrategic nature of Andalucía, as well as its ability to produce and supply clean energies that are key to attracting investments, economic growth, job creation, and knowledge improvement.
It is here where he has recalled that, in a context of climate change that Andalucía is experiencing with particular intensity, this community has renewed until 2026 the Presidency of the working group on climate change of the Conference of Peripheral Regions.
Moreno participates in the commemorative photo of the event, held on the banks of the Guadalquivir, accompanied by other authorities.
To conclude, he has highlighted the declaration signed today in which Andalucía has participated, which, he said, is a useful document to strengthen cooperation and achieve greater cohesion, sustainable development, and connectivity in both transportation, energy, and digital materials.
The event was attended by the Tourism and External Andalucía Advisor, Arturo Bernal.
After the event, Moreno held a meeting with the President of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions, Filip Reinhag.
The CPMR brings together more than 150 European or neighboring regions, maritime or peripheral, from a total of 24 states totaling 200 million people, advocating for a more balanced development of European territory, focusing mainly on social, economic, and territorial cohesion, enhancing European governance, energy, combating climate change, neighborhood, and development.
