Benidorm celebrates Europe Day with an institutional plenary session in which it reaffirms its international vocation

The City of Benidorm today held the Day of Europe with an institutional plenary in which the acting mayor, Ana Pellicer, has highlighted "the Europeanist vocation of Benidorm, an international city like few", and has awarded the 'Distinction Europe' Professor Charles Wilson, for his long and disinterested contribution to the teaching, culture and traditions of Benidorm. "A love for this city," said Pellicer, "has been able to capture in his books and research and in his day to day integrating as few people in the life of this city."

Charles Wilson has received the 'Distinction Europe' from the acting mayor in substitution of, Toni Pérez, of official trip in Colombia, in the course of an institutional act held in the Plenary Hall attended by the members of the corporation; of the consular body; as well as members of the Security Forces and Corps; representatives of the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals, of the Associació de Penyes and the Carta de Poblament Group; and members of social, neighborhood and cultural groups.

Pellicer highlighted in his speech that citizens of Benidorm "feel identified with democratic values, and we believe in a Europe that respects the freedom and identity of each of the peoples that make it up". A Europe - he assured - that "marvels at the different cultures, customs, traditions and languages", something that in Benidorm "is enhanced". In addition, it has influenced that Benidorm, its residents and tourists form a "model of integration, tolerance and prosperity difficult to find"

The acting mayor also ensured that Benidorm is "an exemplary municipality in the application of the principles of economic redistribution in Europe," and then referred to the European funds obtained this week to meet the DUSI strategy, "a project which is an example of participation and neighborhood empowerment "traced from" a vocational governance, absolutely inclusive and inclusive "and that places people" at the center of their action ".

Pellicer also referred to the challenges facing the Union after the Brexit, stating that "the most immediate horizon is to re-consolidate the European project, give it stability and continue to give viability to its economic development in a sustainable way." time". "Now it's time to rebuild Europe," he said, "and it's an opportunity, therefore, to improve it by making it safer, more just and more supportive."

Charles Wilson, for his part, thanked the distinction by recalling his first trip to Benidorm in 1978 at the head of a group of English students and the close ties he had since established with the city through Bárbara Alemany Barceló, then director of the English department of the Pere María Orts i Bosch Institute, organizing a cultural exchange between Benidorm and England for several years.

Settling definitively in Benidorm after his retirement in 1985, Wilson recalled during his speech the affection he has always found in this city and especially in the members of "La Barqueta", the cultural association of which he was a part, and he ended by thanking all people of Benidorm for the welcome and help that he has always given him.