Olhão was, this Thursday, 9th of May, the regional capital of Europe, where the importance of Portugal's accession to the European Union, in 1986, and the impetus it gave to regional development was recalled.
According to the Municipality of Olhão, «in the various activities carried out, in collaboration between the Municipality of Olhão and the Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) of the Algarve, the improvements brought about by Portugal's entry into the European Union (EU) were recalled. to the country and, in particular, to the municipality of Olhão and the Algarve».
On a day that began with the raising of the European flag to the sound of its anthem, in front of the Municipal Auditorium of Olhão, the mayor of the Municipality António Miguel Pina and the president of the CCDR Algarve Francisco Serra highlighted the development that EU membership has brought to the country .
In Olhão, works such as the Auditorium itself, the Levante car park, the squares where you can discover the legends of the Cubist city and the redevelopment of the Municipal Markets or Avenida 5 de Outubro, which is under construction, are good examples of what the funds are all about. communities allowed Olhão, spaces that were visited yesterday by the entities present.
The mayor from Olhão, addressing mainly the youngest people present at the opening ceremony of the Day of Europe, recalled that "Olhão was very different" before Portugal joined the EU in 1986:
«We didn't have a company that treated the water that reaches our taps, our schools were built with the help of community funds, as well as the pavilions and many other infrastructures in our municipality», exemplified António Miguel Pina. "
“Pass this message to your parents, otherwise in a few years we run the risk of thinking that the European Union was of no use, but it did, and a lot”, said the mayor, addressing the students.
The new development perspectives that opened up to the region were also not forgotten by Francisco Serra.
«With the contribution of European support, the region is more competitive, public services have been modernized, are closer and more efficient, social responses cover a large part of the regional territory. We are closer to Europe, for example with the Guadiana International Bridge or interventions at the Airport of Faro», said the president of CCDR Algarve.
In the current regional operational programme, CRESC Algarve 2020, the support to companies, knowledge, the promotion of employability and entrepreneurship and the valorization of territories and endogenous resources is privileged.
At the meeting “Sea without Plastics: Actions to combat marine litter sources linked to the sea”, which took place in the Municipal Markets of Olhão in the afternoon, regional contributions to a sea without plastics were addressed, with contributions from Joana Cruz (University of the Algarve), Lurdes Carvalho (CCDR Algarve), Alcina Sousa (Docapesca), Sílvia Padinha (AMIC Culatra), Angelina Ramos (For-Mar) and Renata Fleck (Sciaena). Here some worrying numbers were revealed: 90% of garbage in the Algarve is plastic; if we walk 100 meters on the beach we find 312 pieces of plastic and in the Ria Formosa more than 50% of the garbage we find is plastic.
On the day that Olhão was the regional 'capital' of Europe, local businesses also joined the initiative, displaying the EU flag in their windows, while the Municipal Library, the Youth House, the Museum, the Municipal Auditorium or the Secondary School hosted various initiatives for young people and younger people: reading stories and legends, dances from Europe, short films for young people, drawings about Europe and various information sessions also marked this day.
Professor António Covas at the Universidade do Algarve presented his latest work “A Critique of European Reason” at the Municipal Museum of Olhão, in which he outlines a “brief history of the future” through 10 theses on European political union.
António Covas, who has a PhD in European Affairs from the University of Brussels, is apprehensive about the final result of the next European Elections, which take place at the end of this month of May.
“In the current context, we must not allow populist and nationalist movements to set a negative agenda. We do not have to apologize for our democracy, our values, human rights and human dignity, equality between men and women, respect for the environment and our social and market economy», defends António Covas in his book, urging people to participate in the vote taking place on the 26th of May.
Europe continued to be highlighted at the Igreja Matriz in Olhão when, in the evening, it hosted the Concert for the Union, with musical excerpts performed by teachers from the local Conservatory of Music, which ended in the best possible way with the Anthem of Europe.
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