DECLARATION PROPOSED BY THE SPANISH DELEGATION AT THE EUROPEAN DAYS OF TERRITORIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE

In defense of the European project

Today, May 9, 2025, at the initiative of the Spanish Delegation at the European Days of the European Association of Territorial Representatives of the State (AERTE), in the spirit of "Europe Day," I propose the following declaration to defend the values, principles, and our way of life, that of a democratic Europe, where the rule of law is at the heart of all freedoms and rights.

As one of the founding fathers said, "Europe will not be built all at once, but will be the fruit of concrete actions," Robert Schuman.

The following declaration is hereby made:

FIRST

From the Spanish Delegation, we reclaim the European project as a beacon of freedoms in the world, a model of economic integration, and a generator of collective security. The most audacious political project ever constructed by politicians, it has enabled a profound transformation of our continent in recent decades.

SECOND

AERTE, born 30 years ago, is made up of states whose priority is to improve the leadership of public policies through state representatives on the territory, which increases citizens' confidence in the project of European freedoms and rights. AERTE embodies precisely the values that gave birth to the European Union.

THIRD

AERTE celebrates the XXth Conference from 8 to 10 May, which focuses on sustainability as a transversal and transformative axis of public policies. And these are the policies that we address in these conferences, the key transformers of today’s European political project, and that we want to promote tomorrow: management of climate emergencies; territorial cohesion as a guarantee of citizens' rights; the promotion of sustainable tourism policies in the area of housing policies; humanization and good governance for artificial intelligence serving people; and at the centre of policies, we also share the need to empower citizens by bringing the “why” of decision-making closer to them.

FOURTH

Today, more than ever, we are aware of the political, collective and security heritage that we as European citizens must defend. Today, more than ever, we must protect the banner that we have brandished throughout humanity: the defence of citizens' rights first. The protection of the rule of law.

CONCLUSION

On 9 May 2025, the Spanish delegation reaffirms that:

1 . - Celebrate and claim the strength of the values, principles and way of life that the European project represents for our society.

2.- Sengage to contribute to the defense of the rule of law, our liberal democracies, the rights and freedoms of citizens, and sustainable economic growth that will allow IEurope to continue to be the great space of future that it is.

3 - We take up the cause of defending all that Europe means, the defence of security in the broad sense, for a future full of hope and freedoms, as Europeans.

Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory.

ALFONSO CARLOS GARCIA ROMERO

Deputy Director-General for European and International Relations