Astrid Pérez: Europe Is Will, Values, and a Vision for the Future
Opening of the III Conecta Canarias–Europe Days
The Parliament of the Canary Islands celebrated the third edition of the Conecta Canarias–Europe Days, marking 40 years of European integration. President of the Parliament, Astrid Pérez, inaugurated the event, which gathered MEPs, institutional representatives, experts and companies to discuss the Canary Islands’ role in building Europe.
“Canary Islands are not the periphery of Europe; they are Europe in the Atlantic,” Pérez declared, emphasizing the archipelago’s strategic position as an ultra‑peripheral region and a natural bridge between continents.
She added:
“These 40 years, Europe has not been built only with treaties, but with will, values and a vision for the future.”
Pérez stressed the importance of maintaining the instruments that have allowed the islands to grow on equal footing with the rest of Europe.
The Ultra‑Peripheral Region Status
The President highlighted the significance of the Ultra‑Peripheral Region (UPR) status, describing it as:
“An act of territorial justice that compensates the structural disadvantages caused by remoteness and island fragmentation.”
She warned about the migration pressure facing the Canary Islands and called for inclusive governance:
“The governance of the migration phenomenon must include border and ultra‑peripheral regions as direct interlocutors,” referring to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the protection of migrant minors.
POSEI Programme
Pérez defended the continuation and updating of the POSEI programme, calling it:
“A tool that sustains thousands of jobs and preserves our agricultural and livestock traditions.”
CALRE Manifesto and the Multi‑Annual Financial Framework
The President also celebrated the recent manifesto approved by CALRE under the Canary Islands’ presidency, which strengthens the voice of regions in the upcoming 2028‑2034 Multi‑Annual Financial Framework.
“Territorial cohesion is not only a fundamental principle; it is an imperative need for Europe’s progress,” she affirmed.
Participants
The sessions, held at the Parliament’s headquarters, featured:
- Gustavo González de Vega, Vice‑Councillor for Economy and Internationalisation, Government of the Canary Islands
- Manuel Medina Ortega, former MEP and President of the Canary Council of the European Movement
- Juan Fernando López Aguilar, MEP
- Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, MEP
- Alfonso Cabello, Vice‑Councillor for the Presidency and President of PROEXCA
Business and Debate Sessions
- Canary Export Companies Panel – “The Canary Footprint in Europe: Business Success Stories”
- Parliamentary Groups Debate – “The Parliament of the Canary Islands Facing Europe’s Challenges”