Algarve Aims for European Association Status for EuroAAA Region

José Apolinário advocates for the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalusia Euroregion (EuroAAA) to become an «autonomous European entity» and attain «the same European association status between regions as, for example, the Eurocity of Alcoutim, Castro Marim, and Ayamonte». This move aims to further enhance the cross-border cooperation work that has been carried out in recent years.

This goal was outlined by the president of the Algarve's Regional Coordination and Development Commission during the ceremony marking the transition of the EuroAAA presidency from Alentejo to Algarve, held last week in Mértola.

Until 2027, the focus of the Algarve's presidency will largely be on realizing new connections between Portugal and Spain, including future bridges between Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana and between Nisa and Cedillo, as well as preliminary studies for the railway link between Faro and Seville (via Huelva).

José Apolinário also emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation in areas such as water, mobility, soil health, biodiversity, Civil Protection, culture, and tourism, building on the work done during the previous mandate under Alentejo's presidency.

António Ceia da Silva, president of the Alentejo CCDR, highlighted the achievements of the outgoing mandate, which focused on strengthening the euro-regional identity, developing common strategic tools, and valuing shared resources among the three territories.

Juan Moreno Bonilla, president of the Junta de Andalucía, stressed the importance of the EuroAAA as an example of necessary cooperation that enhances the relevance of Southern Europe, advocating for the periphery of Europe to be as valued as its center.

Key projects include the operationalization of agreements from the Iberian Summit in Faro through five working groups covering water, soil health, biodiversity, mobility, blue economy, cultural heritage, tourism, and climate change prevention.

The ambition extends to the high-speed rail link between Seville, Huelva, and Faro, seen as a crucial step for competitiveness and a debt owed to Southern Europe by the EU and both states.