Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a working visit of the EU ambassadors accredited in Spain took place last week in the province of Cádiz.
During the institutional reception in Jerez de la Frontera, the ambassadors were welcomed by the mayor María José García-Pelayo and members of the Municipal Corporation. The mayor defended “Jerez’s willingness to cooperate with Europe to be a better city and to defend the autonomy of each territory.” In that line, she advocated for “values such as democracy, integration, freedoms, and sustainable development, principles that, as she emphasized, are also defended from Jerez.”
For his part, the ambassador of Cyprus, Michalis Ioannou, expressed his gratitude for the welcome and described Jerez as a “human, dynamic city with a unique personality,” capable of balancing tradition with modernity.
The Cypriot ambassador congratulated the city of Jerez for its recent distinction as Spanish Capital of Gastronomy and for the effort invested in the candidacy for European Capital of Culture. The diplomat assured that, due to its history, the locality already acts as a true cultural capital and expressed his hope that “this meeting would serve as a starting point for future joint projects, reminding that the European Union is also built through friendship and direct contact between citizens and territories.”
In the working meeting that took place the following day at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, in addition to the mayor, the general director of Tourist Planning and Hospitality of the Junta de Andalucía, Elena Baena, was present, who emphasized the “responsibility” and the “opportunity” that Andalucía has in the construction of the European project as its southern border. The meeting addressed challenges and opportunities for cooperation in tourism, investment, and sustainable development.
The main activities took place in Jerez de la Frontera and at the Naval Base of Rota, highlighting the economic and cultural potential of the province, as well as the strategic importance of the Rota Base in the current geopolitical context.
The day began with a visit to the flamenco craft workshop Jonubra, led by the craftsman José María Núñez Bravo, who has more than 35 years of experience dedicated to creating handcrafted pieces linked to the expression of flamenco art and culture.
Subsequently, the delegation moved to the Cultural Center Lola Flores, located in the historic center of the city. In this exhibition space dedicated to the most universal Jerez artist, visitors were able to delve into the figure of Lola Flores through an innovative museographic proposal that brings together documents, audiovisuals, personal objects, and interpretive resources that allow understanding the artistic trajectory of the singer, dancer, and actress, as well as the social, cultural, and historical context of Spain during much of the 20th century.
As part of the trip, a visit to Cádiz was also made, the oldest city in Western Europe continuously inhabited, whose history dates back more than three thousand years and holds a prominent place in the history of Spain for being the scene of the promulgation of the Constitution of 1812, a fundamental milestone in the constitutional and democratic development of the country. In addition, the mayor of the city, Bruno García de León, met with the ambassadors and their companions at a dinner offered by the Fundacion Cajasol.
