A «recent Eurobarometer opinion study, with a representative sample on the NUTS II scale, shows how in the Algarve we assume ourselves as Portuguese and European in its entirety», highlighted the president of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), at the celebrations of Europe Day, which is celebrated today.
José Apolinário, continuing to quote Eurobarometer, added that, «in the Algarve, 69 percent of respondents trust the European Union, 59 percent trust local and regional authorities, 62 percent are optimistic about the future of our region, with a majority defending the priority of public policies to support the economy, social justice and employment, housing and access to housing, and health».
The celebrations of Europe Day, May 9th, began in Faro, at the headquarters of CCDR Algarve, at 9:30 am, with the raising of the Flag to the sound of the Anthem of Europe, by students from EB1 of Ria Formosa, from Faro. This was followed by the inauguration of the exhibition “Pilar of Social Rights of the European Union”, created by the European Commission, organized by Europe Direct.
On this occasion, the LEGOS 2.0 innovation and social inclusion project was presented by the social solidarity institutions responsible for this response to the problems of homeless people, financed by European Funds managed in the region, within the scope of the Regional Algarve 2030 program. The “Legos 2.0” project is coordinated by MAPS, in conjunction with CASA, GATO and the Municipalities.
The celebrations of Europe Day in the Algarve continued in the afternoon in Silves, with a visit to the Silves Municipal Swimming Pools energy efficiency project, developed in partnership with AREAL and co-financed by European Funds managed in the region, within the scope of CRESC Algarve 2020. The project resulted in energy savings of 42%, and is now an investment reference for other municipalities in similar installations.
During the afternoon, there were also various activities promoted by Europe Direct in conjunction with the Municipality of Silves, culminating, in the Municipal Library, with “Sunset Europa”, which aims to be a participatory space, for sharing and reflection on the European project, based on for cultural moments that celebrate a Europe “United in diversity”.
Read the full «Intervention by the President of CCDR Algarve, José Apolinário, on the occasion of Europe Day 2024»
«In 1950, five years after the declaration of the end of World War II, European governments determined to create conditions for Peace came to the conclusion that joining forces in coal and steel production would turn France and Germany into historically rival countries. more interdependent and contribute to Peace and Prosperity in Europe.
Robert Schuman, the then French Minister of Foreign Affairs, became one of the architects of European construction: “The combination of coal and steel production will change the destiny of regions that have long been dedicated to the manufacture of weapons of war and have were the main victims”, here is an excerpt that I highlight from the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950.
At the beginning of the 80s of the last century, Jacques Delors, then President of the European Commission, also a defender of peace, played a key role in the integration of Portugal and Spain into the then European Communities, culminating in the Accession Treaty on June 12, 1985. Recently deceased, Jacques Delors – to whom Portugal’s integration into the European Union is due, in the words of praise from the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa – Delors was the architect of modern Europe, transforming the European Union from an economic community into a union also of people and nations.
The European Union now has a single currency – the euro -, but also Schengen, the ERASMUS Program, the reinforcement of cohesion policies, the Delors Package.
A recent Eurobarometer opinion study, with a representative sample on the NUTS II scale, shows how in the Algarve we see ourselves as fully Portuguese and European. In the Algarve, 69 percent of respondents trust the European Union, 59 percent trust local and regional authorities, 62 percent are optimistic about the future of our region, with the majority defending the priority of supporting public policies to the economy, social justice and employment, housing and access to housing, health.
With the guidance and supervision of the Government, the law assigns to the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR) the mission of ensuring the planning and management of cohesion policy within the scope of Regional Programs and European territorial cooperation programs, with a view to the economic, social and cultural development of the territory, within the framework of the regional development strategy.
As such, and as is already customary, together with all entities and also within our Europe Direct activity program, we celebrate Europe Day at CCDR in the Algarve.
We would like to thank the presence of representatives of the Municipalities and Parishes, the University of Algarve, the various public entities, and the Security Forces and Services. We have a fruitful relationship with everyone, of consultation, of active collaboration, of loyal cooperation, in fulfilling our mission and responsibilities.
Thanks also to the associations and representatives of Misericórdias, IPSS, business associations, the members of the CCDR Regional Council and the Regional Program monitoring committee. Of course, this is work that is only possible with a team of public servants at CCDR, in the Mission Structure of the ALGARVE 2030 Regional Program, in the deconcentrated services in the areas of culture, agriculture and fisheries, in the territory, to whom I sincerely thank.
A special word for the Escola Básica da Ria Formosa de Faro, for the teachers and collaborators, for the students who presented us with the Anthem of Joy and the National Anthem.
Also for MAPS, CASA and GATO, social solidarity institutions, within the framework of a social innovation project, based on the principles of “housing first”, in cooperation and with the support of Municipalities, social security, individual benefactors , here they will present us with a social inclusion project, innovative on a national and European scale, with financing from European funds, in this case funds from the European Social Fund managed in the region through the Regional Program.
We could also highlight the mobilization of European Funds in the field of water, considering the exceptional and structural situation of our region, in school infrastructure, social equipment, culture, primary health care and technological equipment in health.
In the afternoon, in partnership with the Municipality of Silves, we will highlight an efficiency investment in a municipal building also with European funds, in this case in the Silves Municipal Swimming Pools, with 42% energy savings, as a good example of investment in the transition climate and sustainability.
For the youngest. Find out more about Europe, the European project is a project of Peace, Social and Territorial Cohesion. It is and will continue to be a Sustainability project. A project for the future and with a future.
Long live Europe Day
Long live Portugal»
