González-Barba announces “the radical transformation in a few years” of the economic model for Ceuta

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The Secretary of State for the European Union has delivered the closing conference of the Economic Forum of Ceuta showing the “decided commitment” of the Government of the nation, of the EU itself so that, together with the different regional and local administrations “in a few years let us radically transform and modernize the economic and prosperity model “of the autonomous city. Juan González-BarbaIn fact, he thanked EL ESPAÑOL for the initiative of this conclave because “On these issues, unity is strength”.

González-Barba’s speech highlighted the entire cast of guests at the Forum that this newspaper has organized these days, together with the government of the autonomous Spanish city in North Africa.

“The first thing I must highlight is the great consensus among the various political forces,” he said. “Here we have listened to former foreign ministers; to a former head of the Treasury, whose intervention has been excellent [Cristóbal Montoro]; a MEP and the vice president of the Junta de Andalucía, de Ciudadanos; and the Minister of Finance of that Autonomous Community, which is from the PP, “said the Secretary of State.” And it is that all together we can promote for Ceuta, and for Melilla, the best situation for their interests before the European Union. “


Ceuta Economic Forum / 6. Juan González-Barba Pera, Secretary of State for the European Union

And it is that the European and future focus has been the guide by which this diplomat, former ambassador to Turkey, he spun his address. An unbeatable choice given the tone of all the presentations, speeches and interviews these days in Ceuta. “The key,” he said, “is what you can do the EU to continue promoting the good of Ceuta’s interests. And therefore, from Spain “.

Starting from the most local to the broadest and most global, González-Barba drew the different areas of this “overlapping” of Ceuta, as a “fully-fledged European city, together with Melilla, from the moment of Spain’s accession, in whose Treaty was recorded of its specificities and singularities “.

“Values ​​and tolerance”

One of them, which marks the “valuable character that must be preserved” and put in value, is “the promotion of the values ​​of non-discrimination and tolerance” that Ceuta can champion. “In a few hours I will meet with the leaders of the four main religious communities of the city“He announced.” This singular character, of which Ceuta boasts, must be recognized in Europe, in the face of attempts by any political force to put it into question. “

What was evident is that the Secretary of State for the EU could not overcome the “terrible crisis” that the city experienced on May 17 and 18, with the entry of thousands of people from Morocco through its borders. “In Ceuta the Spanish condition is lived in a very sharp way, as President Vivas has said, “he explained.” And all peninsular Spaniards have a special obligation to those who experience that condition in a unique way. This is not conceivable without understanding it comprehensively. “

And hence the immediate response, which arrived with the visit of President Pedro Sánchez that same afternoon and, two weeks later, from González-Barba himself and the former Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, formed “the expression of the commitment” that it also showed the European Union and its leaders. “Now the new minister José Manuel Albares has placed the resolution of the crisis with Morocco in his highest priorities“.

But this path, he recalled, “cannot be done without remembering what the keys to each of the parts are, and the Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla, with total freedom and without any shock, is an essential element of our relationship with Morocco “, he remarked.” This has been transmitted [al reino alauí] and only in this way can this crisis be overcome in a sustainable way. “

For this reason, as “any government in the nation cannot allow any Spaniard to feel helpless under any circumstances,” this new perspective is being worked on with Rabat and “the prospects are very good and very favorable.”

Funds and vaccination

Turning to “the Europeanity” of the two autonomous cities, González-Barba highlighted the specific elements in which the EU “can help” their development. First, by putting the focus of attention on your own existence, “as you have said before Jordi Cañas, recalling the process of drafting the resolution of the European Parliament “in the days following the assault last May. “Today, everyone knows where Ceuta and Melilla are and what their condition is”, celebrated.

In addition, the Union helps with financing. Not only through recovery funds Next Generation EU, which are already arriving “to transform the productive and economic model” of Ceuta. But in different structural policies.

Thus, the Secretary of State gave an example of “the almost 13 million euros “from the migration and integration fund drawn up at the time of the crisis, the 24 million “of the instrument React EU“Oh go on 14 million that will be used “to improve technological infrastructures and SMEs”, through “the Sure credit line that has also financed the ERTE”.

Of course, González-Barba mentioned as another success for the city the European vaccination campaign, “of which we Spaniards should feel very proud”, for being the first of the large EU countries with an “almost universal” immunization in the target population … in addition to the “great work of the media, which in Spain not giving way to the conspiracy theories of the deniers, who have spurious intentions “.

Sample Models

The Secretary of State did mention “the debate on the possible change of model in the membership of Ceuta and Melilla to Schengen”. But he did it to clarify that the objective is good neighborliness with Morocco, “since neither party wants the return of the atypical trade“.

And to point out the model reached with Gibraltar as an example “If we can ratify what was agreed before the end of the year.” As he said, the common interests between territories baptized as “zone of shared prosperity” in the case of the British colony, they can “take advantage of the very special circumstances” of Ceuta and Melilla to their advantage.

Finally, and how could it be otherwise, the European diplomat highlighted the Conference on the Future of Europe promoted by the European Chamber and the Commission. “It is an opportunity for citizens to show their interests and concerns and these become priorities “for the EU and for the Government of Spain itself.

In fact, González-Barba promised that “the conclusions of the specific seminar” for this matter to be jointly organized by the two Spanish autonomous cities in North Africa “be introduced at the key points of the planned Spanish Presidency of the Council.” in the second half of 2023.

Reference-www.elespanol.com

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