Benidorm cries out for a Europe in peace

On the occasion of Europe Day, which is commemorated today, Monday, Benidorm has held an institutional plenary session in which the mayor Toni Pérez, on behalf of the city, has called for a continent "in peace". During the session, the Europe Honour was awarded to the people of Ukraine, thus recognizing "their history, their position and their indomitable courage and capacity for resistance". This event, which took place in the Plenary Hall, was attended by, among others, the president of the Provincial Council of Alicante, Carlos Mazón; the national deputy Agustín Almodóbar; the regional deputy Manuel Pérez Fenoll; the provincial deputy for International Residents, Juan de Dios Navarro; representatives of the consular bodies of Hungary, Romania, Belgium and Ukraine, and of the State Security Forces and Corps; delegates from Truskavets, from Odessa and the president of the May 9 Institute; as well as the members of the Municipal Corporation.

The Ukrainian consul in Valencia, Pablo Gil, has collected this distinction from the mayor, who has stressed that the war, which today marks "75 ignominious days" and that "with forcefulness and from Benidorm we condemn again", is "the greatest threat that Europe and the European Union have at the moment in their immediate surroundings".

After reaffirming "the solidarity" of Benidorm and Europe with the people of Ukraine and reiterating the "maximum outrage at the aggression suffered", Toni Pérez has assured that "not respecting the sovereign decision of people and nations is an attack on the most elements” of “Peace and international legality”, as well as “the fundamental human rights”.

Likewise, he has stressed that “conflicts must be resolved exclusively through dialogue and diplomacy”; and has reiterated "our firm conviction in the concept of Europe, from a solid European Union, united, cooperating for a common future and always in favour of peace".

Toni Pérez has also referred to the celebration of the European Year of Youth, stating that "young people already play a fundamental role in building peaceful and democratic societies", and in achieving "a better, greener, more inclusive and more digital future ”. A youth, he has deepened, with which "we share a global interest: to recover the world socially and environmentally, overcoming stigmas such as those of non-inclusion and non-diversity".

For his part, the Ukrainian consul thanked "the Valencian society" for the "support" shown "in all possible directions that exist in solidarity, for the collection and sending of humanitarian aid but also for the excellent reception and attention of refugees and their children.

Pablo Gil has mentioned the call received from the mayor of Benidorm in the first moments of the Russian invasion. According to him, he was "the first mayor who contacted me directly to offer the city's support to Ukraine on all fronts: humanitarian aid, refugees, whatever we needed." A city, he has assured, that "we always link to the future and progress" and that "knows more than any other about the peaceful coexistence between different nationalities and the prosperity and wealth that it entails".

Recovery Fund

During his speech, the mayor mentioned the challenges that the European Union has ahead of it, especially "the task of successfully completing, and in all the beneficiary member countries, the Recovery Fund of 750,000 million euros with which It has been here for almost two years wanting to relaunch the economy after the hit of the pandemic.”

In this sense, he pointed out that the launch of these Next Generation Funds "coincides with a moment of take-off of the economic recovery", which in Spain is "extraordinarily threatened" by "brutal inflation that already exceeds two digits" and to which is added "the current supply crisis"; both circumstances that "generate a new gap of uncertainties".

The institutional plenary has closed with the interpretation of the anthem of Europe.

Continuing with this commemoration, tonight El Castell de Benidorm will light up with the colours of the European flag.