The European People's Party (EPP) has announced its intention to propose the President of the Andalusian Regional Government and leader of the Andalusian PP, Juanma Moreno, as its "consensus candidate" to chair the Committee of the Regions of the European Union (CoR). This appointment represents a historic event, as it would be the first time that Andalusia holds the presidency of this important regional and local representative body in the EU.
The news was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Andalusian Executive, Carolina España, in a press conference after the meeting of the Government Council. According to her, Moreno has already officially presented Andalusia's candidacy to the EPP, obtaining the support to become the main candidate of this European political group. The official designation is scheduled for this Friday, January 31, when the popular group will announce Moreno as its formal candidate for the post.
Juanma Moreno has managed to ensure that Andalusia is heard, respected and taken into account in the European institutions
"This means that Andalusia will be positioned at the highest level in the European institutions, being the official voice of the regions and cities of Europe," said Spain, highlighting the importance of the presidency of the Committee of the Regions both for the community and for the whole of southern Europe.
A historic step forward in the representation of Andalusia in the Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions of the EU is a key body where the regions and major cities of the member countries of the Union are represented. The presidency of this body not only grants international visibility, but also the ability to directly influence the formulation of policies affecting the regions.
Spain recalled that, although the Committee of the Regions had already been chaired in the past by another Spaniard, Pascual Maragall, Never before has Andalusia reached this level of representation. According to him, this achievement reinforces the role of the community in Europe and underlines the Juanma Moreno's commitment to the recovery of Andalusia's prominence in the international arena.
Since his arrival at the presidency of the Board, Moreno has worked to strengthen the presence of Andalusia in European institutions, standing out on key issues such as climate change, depopulation and regional strategies to promote employment and territorial cohesion. "Andalusia has recovered ground that was practically lost in the European institutions, because previous governments turned their backs on the European Union," added Spain.
Andalusian leadership on key issues for Europe
Juanma Moreno's candidacy comes at a time when Andalusia has managed to position itself as a benchmark region on key issues for Europe, since the ecological transition
to the fight against depopulation. The spokesperson for the Andalusian Executive stressed that, under Moreno's leadership, the community has played a leading role in crucial debates, such as the Climate Law and territorial cohesion policies.
«Juanma Moreno has managed to ensure that Andalusia is heard, respected and taken into account in the European institutions», Spain said, stressing that the work of the Andalusian president has been constant and beneficial for the region.
With the presidency of the Committee of the Regions, Andalusia will not only strengthen its role in decision-making at European level, but will also open up new opportunities to influence policies that benefit its citizens. This includes areas such as economic development, sustainability, digitalisation and job creation.
An unprecedented representation for Andalusia and Southern Europe
The possibility of Juanma Moreno presiding over the Committee of the Regions marks a milestone not only for Andalusia, but also for southern Europe. According to Carolina España, this would be a unique opportunity for the region to take on a leading role in Europe, becoming the voice of the regions and cities of the continent.
"It is a giant step for Andalusia and for southern Europe, which had never achieved such a level of representation", concluded the spokesperson for the Andalusian Government.
With this initiative, the European People's Party is betting on a figure with a solid track record and a clear vision of regional priorities at the European level. If this candidacy is confirmed, Juanma Moreno will lead one of the most influential bodies in the EU, consolidating the role of Andalusia as a key player in the future of Europe.
Shared presidency: an agreement between the Popular Party and the Socialists
The new mandate of the Committee of the Regions will be marked by an agreement on a shared presidency between the two main European political groups: the European People's Party and the Socialist Group. Under this agreement, Juanma Moreno will hold the presidency for the first half of the mandate, while the socialist Kata Tütto, deputy mayor of Budapest, will take over the role for the second half.
This model of shared presidency in the Committee of the Regions reflects a consensus between the main European political forces to ensure the representation of the different political sensibilities in the CoR. According to Spain, This agreement not only benefits Andalusia, but also strengthens the presence of southern Europe in the EU institutions, a region that has historically had a lesser role in senior community positions.
