•The Spanish ambassador to Portugal will collaborate in the current phase of creating the Atlantic Macro-Region
•The eAtlantic Foundation opens a line of work with leading agents from the CCDR Lisbon and Tagus Valley
The president of the eAtlantic Foundation, Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu, concluded a two-day working agenda in Portugal on Thursday, during which he held various meetings at both the institutional level and with experts committed to the Foundation’s objectives for the Atlantic coast.
The round of meetings included the Spanish ambassador to Portugal, the deputy mayor of Lisbon and the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR LVT), headed by its president, Teresa Almeida.
During Wednesday’s lunch, Ambassador Juan Fernández Trigo conveyed to Lehendakari Urkullu his intention to contribute directly to the creation of the Atlantic Macro-Regional Strategy. The diplomat was informed of eAtlantic’s lines of work and offered his willingness to collaborate with the Foundation in his official capacity.
Subsequently, the eAtlantic delegation, which included its Director General, Marian Elorza, was received by the Deputy Mayor of the Portuguese capital, Gonçalo Reis, who expressed his full agreement with the need to strengthen cooperation in favour of the Atlantic coast.
In this regard, the deputy mayor considered the idea that the foundation chaired by Lehendakari Urkullu intends to bring together public and private actors in its activities and lines of work to be ‘suggestive’ and ‘appropriate’.
Meeting with the CCDR Lisbon Tagus Valley
The eAtlantic Foundation’s visit to Portugal concluded on Thursday with a working meeting with representatives of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR LVT), led by its recently re-elected president, architect Teresa Almeida.
This body works to promote the region at national and international level in the context of European territory and regions, prioritising economic competitiveness and innovation, as well as territorial resilience as a vital element for prosperity and well-being.
During the meeting, both parties agreed on the need to develop dynamics between different agents and public and private institutions in order to
promote synergies that highlight the contribution of the regional ecosystem. In turn, they agreed on the advisability of broadening participation in public decision-making that favours the sustainability of economic, social, environmental and cultural growth.
A dozen experts from the CCDR LVT participated in this working session, including José
Guerreiro and Tiago Pitta e Cunha. Guerreiro is president of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) and was Secretary of State for the Environment and Director-General for the Environment. Tiago Pitta e Cunha is Executive Director
of the Blue Ocean Foundation and one of the leading figures in Portugal and Europe in the field of ocean governance, having been awarded the European Parliament’s European Citizen’s Prize.
The eAtlantic Fundazioa Foundation conveyed to those present its desire for them to participate in the open research process on the territorialisation of the Letta and Draghi reports. Marian Elorza stressed that their contribution will be particularly relevant in the areas of innovation, the blue economy and ocean sustainability.
Lisbon offers Urkullu cooperation to strengthen the Atlantic Coast
Meeting with the CCDR Lisbon Tagus Valley