The Eurocities Executive Committee has officially approved Orihuela’s membership in the network, making it the first municipality in Alicante and the second in the Valencian Community to achieve this status. This milestone follows meetings held last December in Brussels, where Mayor Pepe Vegara, Councilor for Major Projects Matías Ruiz, and General Coordinator for City Development Adrián Ballester met with the team led by André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities.
The announcement was warmly welcomed with a message from Stefano Simonetta, Executive Assistant to the Secretary General, stating, “Congratulations and welcome!”
By joining Eurocities, Orihuela gains significant international exposure while also securing stronger representation of municipal interests before European Union institutions. The membership provides access to essential information and advisory services on European funding programs, increasing opportunities to obtain financial support for projects related to sustainability, digitalization, mobility, and economic development.
Representing over 200 European cities, Eurocities serves as a key intermediary between local governments and EU institutions, ensuring that municipal concerns are considered in policymaking.
Mayor Pepe Vegara expressed his enthusiasm for Orihuela’s inclusion in the network, emphasizing that this step will open new doors for investment, learning, collaboration, and growth within a European context. He highlighted the benefits of knowledge exchange with other cities that share similar objectives, allowing Orihuela to adopt best practices in urban policy development.
Additionally, the network fosters collaboration on crucial issues such as climate change, social inclusion, the digital economy, and sustainable mobility.
