The Regional Government highlights Benidorm’s European leadership during a visit to the exhibition marking 40 years of Spain’s membership in the EU

The Regional Government highlighted Benidorm’s leading role in Europe and its ability to serve as a benchmark for other territories during a visit to the commemorative exhibition marking 40 years since Spain joined the European Union. The exhibition celebrates four decades of European integration and brings the process of transformation and openness experienced since Spain became part of the European project in 1986 closer to the public. The exhibition is open to visitors in the lobby of Benidorm Town Hall.

The event was attended by Regional Secretary for Representation to the European Union and the Autonomous Communities and External Action, Ruth Merino; Director General for Representation to the European Union, the Autonomous Communities and External Action, Raquel Aguado; and Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, together with other representatives of the Municipal Corporation.

The Mayor explained how, “decades before Spain joined the European institutions, Benidorm was already thinking in European terms, welcoming thousands of foreign tourists and hosting conferences and debates on Europe and its role in the geopolitical landscape of the time.” For Benidorm, Spain’s accession to Europe therefore “meant officially recognising a sense of belonging that was already experienced every day in our streets and which today, with pride, we remember through dates, figures and personalities,” Pérez said.

Toni Pérez also highlighted the value of the commemorative exhibition promoted by the Generalitat as an opportunity to “remember the journey we have travelled and recognise how far we have come”, as well as to “look ahead” with “the firm conviction” of championing and defending “European values” at a time of “uncertainty”.

“Europe is the coexistence of different nationalities, languages and cultures; it is the opportunity to travel, work, study, start a business and live with a degree of freedom that our parents and grandparents could scarcely have imagined. And Europe is also based on a fundamental conviction: that diversity does not have to be a border, but can instead become a strength,” the Mayor said. He also stressed that “the European Union was born from an extraordinary idea: that cooperation is more powerful than confrontation, and that dialogue can replace violence.” In this regard, he expressed his regret over “the invasions taking place on the borders of this Union: in the south, the situation currently unfolding in Ceuta; and in the north, the situation that Ukraine has, unfortunately, been suffering at the hands of Russia for far too long.”

For her part, Ruth Merino described Benidorm as “a good example of the transformation that Spain and the Valencian Community have undergone during these four decades as members of the European Union” and highlighted the city’s progress “in areas that are now European priorities, such as innovation, sustainability and digital transformation.”

In this regard, she referred to the profile Benidorm has achieved in Europe, supported by various European recognitions and initiatives. As an example, she highlighted the city’s designation by the European Commission as European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Destination 2025, as well as its participation in European initiatives that have helped showcase its sustainable and smart tourism model beyond Spain’s borders.

“Benidorm demonstrates that our relationship with Europe is a two-way relationship. The European project has contributed to the transformation of our territories, and today our municipalities also have experiences and best practices that can serve as a benchmark across Europe,” Merino said.

The Regional Secretary concluded by stressing that “Europe is built in Brussels, but also in its regions and municipalities”, and defended the need to continue bringing the European project closer to citizens while strengthening the Valencian Community’s participation in shaping the Europe of the coming years.

For his part, the Mayor explained how, decades before Spain joined the European institutions, Benidorm was already thinking in European terms, welcoming thousands of foreign tourists and hosting conferences and debates on Europe and its role in the geopolitical landscape of the time. For Benidorm, Spain’s accession to Europe therefore “meant officially recognising a sense of belonging that was already experienced every day in our streets and which today, with pride, we remember through dates, figures and personalities.”

Toni Pérez highlighted the value of this commemorative exhibition, promoted by the Regional Government, as an opportunity to “look back and recognise how far we have come”, while also “looking ahead” with “the firm conviction” of championing and defending “European values” at this time of “uncertainty”.