Europe must be, more than ever, a project for citizens

USPA NEWS - The King of Spain, Philip VI, accompanied by retired King Juan Carlos of Borbon, chaired on Wednesday the official ceremony commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the signing of the Accession Treaty of Spain to the European Communities, which took place on June 12, 1985.

Philip VI expressed his joy for having the presence of Don Juan Carlos. "In this such an important and solemn occasion, I want to thank you for your deep European convictions -also inherited his father and grandfather Don Juan, Conde de Barcelona- and all the work and effort made over many years to encourage Spain in its European voyage and get a free Europe increasingly prosperous, supportive and integrated. Thank you, Your Majesty," said the King.

"Europe should, more than ever, a project for citizens and starring citizens," said Philip VI in his speech. "With an eye to the future, count on the support of citizens, especially young people, the project of European integration is the key for Europe to move forward and achieve leverage the challenges of a globalized world. A world that has little to do with the fifties and that is also very different from that lived thirty years ago, when Spain joined the European Communities was formalized," he added.

The King of Spain emphasized in his speech that "the years after our accession to the Communities are among the best in the history of Spain. We have lived in freedom and democracy, have achieved social and economic development unprecedented and Spain, recovering its traditional universal vocation, has opened to the world, not only in social, economic, trade and investment terms but also mentality and collective solidarity: there are decades of a major effort in cooperation with Spanish the least developed countries, and there is also our host to millions of citizens of other countries."

Don Felipe claimed that "economic growth that Europe needs to be smart and sustainable growth that contributes to social cohesion. Therefore, the Union has a strategy and provided with resources to promote research and innovation, to protect the environment and to effectively combat climate change." The King recalled that solidarity is one of the hallmarks of the European Union -first world's largest donor of Official Aid to Development-, as well as the character of Europe as "a cosmopolitan project that has been equipped with an external action which goals are peace, stability and development in freedom and democracy. from respect for human rights."

The ceremony, held in the Hall of Columns of the Royal Palace of Madrid, began with the singing of the National Anthem, the Anthem of Europe and three tracks on the southern, central and northern Europe, written by Conforto, Strauss and Sibelius, by the European Youth Orchestra of Madrid. After the screening of a video of the Mark Spain, they involved the president of the European Parliament, former Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzalez, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, and King Philip VI. The ceremony ended with the inauguration, by Don Felipe and Don Juan Carlos, a photographic exhibition entitled 'Spain, thirty years of integration in Europe (1985-2015)'.