The group of the European People’s Party (EPP) will propose the president of the Junta of Andalusia and leader of the Andalusian People’s Party (PP), Juanma Moreno, as its “consensus candidate” to chair the Committee of the Regions of the European Union.
This was announced by the spokesperson for the Andalusian government, Carolina España, at the press conference following the Council of Government meeting, where Moreno reported that he had presented to the EPP the candidacy of Andalusia to preside the Committee of the Regions in the European term that begins now.
Thus, according to España, it is expected that this Friday, January 31, the “Popular Group” will designate Juanma Moreno as the European People’s Party’s consensus candidate to chair the Committee of the Regions.
“Never before had Andalusia had the opportunity to preside over this important organ,” said the spokesperson for the Andalusian government, recalling that, for example, it was presided over by another Spaniard, Pascual Maragall, when he was president of Catalonia.
This is an organ where the regions of Europe and also the major cities of the European Union are represented, and therefore, according to España, by presiding this organ, “undoubtedly, Andalusia will position itself at the highest level in European institutions.”
“This means that Andalusia will be the official voice of the regions and cities of Europe,” added España, who pointed out that since Juanma Moreno arrived at the Junta, Andalusia has been “recovering ground that was practically lost in European institutions.” She indicated that the previous PSOE-A governments in Andalusia “lived with their backs to the European Union,” something that “did not make sense.”
“Now Juanma Moreno has managed to ensure that Andalusia is treated with respect, that it is heard and taken into account,” according to the government spokesperson, who added that from the outset the president “has believed in the importance of the Committee of the Regions” and his work in that body “has been steady and beneficial for Andalusia,” so that the voice of this community has been heard on matters as important as the Climate Law or the opinion on depopulation.
She recalled that there is an agreement between the two main European groups, the EPP Group and the Socialist Group, for a shared presidency in the Committee of the Regions, so that Juanma Moreno would hold the presidency for half the term and the other half would belong to the Socialist candidate, the deputy mayor of Budapest (Hungary), Kata Tütto.
“Therefore, it is a giant leap, not only for our community, not only for Andalusia, but also for Southern Europe, because a level of European representation never before known by Andalusia will be reached,” said España.
