The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, on 12 October 2026 in Brussels called for regions to play a stronger role in the European Union at the opening of European Week of Regions and Cities. Europe should be shaped “not only in Brussels, but also in its cities, towns and regions”, he said, according to a statement from the Andalusian regional government.
Moreno linked his general position to specific policy areas. He highlighted cohesion policy, with Common Agricultural Policy and his party single market as key tools for growth, innovation and balance between areas. These policy areas must remain predictable and reliable to enable investment in regions such as Andalusia . He also referred to projects modernised with EU funding and called for proven funding instruments not to be scaled back.
Moreno spoke particularly forcefully about the situation in Ceuta. The Spanish exclave is the “southern external border of the European Union” and is under constant pressure, he said. Protecting Ceuta also means protecting Europe, so the city needs visible European support. Security issues should not be considered in isolation, he stressed, but linked to social stability and opportunities for young people, such as access to housing.
Moreno spoke as part of the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions and argued for its position within the EU to be strengthened. In his view, the body, which brings together elected representatives from cities and regions, should be involved earlier and more formally in legislative processes. This would improve the implementation of EU initiatives on the ground and strengthen the democratic legitimacy of European decisions.
Moreno’s participation in the opening of European Week of Regions and Cities and his comments on Ceuta’s role were covered by Spanish national media. In recent months, he has repeatedly called for the concerns of border regions to receive greater consideration at European level. In Brussels, he linked these demands to the ongoing debate on the direction of cohesion funding in the new financial period and to the question of how the EU can safeguard social cohesion in its member states.
Moreno presented his position as a contribution to a Europe that brings people closer together, reduces inequalities and effectively secures its external borders. He made no predictions about specific decisions, but called for the debate in EU institutions to move forward quickly.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).