Barcelona's City Hall welcomes the Central Council on the 50th anniversary of the ELEC's Spanish Committee.

Ms. Maravillas Rojo, Deputy Mayor, highlights the coincidences between the ELEC's ideals and Barcelona's pro-European spirit during the reception held at the City Hall for the League's Central Council.
01.06.2006

The Central Council of the European League of Economic Cooperation (ELEC), held this year in Barcelona, opened on Friday 1st June with a welcome celebration offered by the City Hall. Barcelona's Deputy Mayor and Counselor for Employment and Innovation, Ms. Maravillas Rojo, welcomed the ELEC's deputies into the Town Hall.

The President of the League's Spanish Committee, Mr. Carles A. Gasòliba, informed Ms. Maravillas Rojo of the 50th anniversary of the aforementioned committee, the reason why the Central Council takes place in Barcelona this year. Mr. Gasòliba emphasized the fact that, present among the attendants in the celebration was one of the founders of the Spanish section of the League, Mr. Carlos de Montoliu, member of the Committee's first board.

The President of the Spanish Comité referred during his speech to the coincidence of this anniversary with that of Spain's incorporation to the European Community 20 years ago, and recalled the role played by Spain during three decades of its history as an impulsor of Europeanism in difficult circumstances.

European vocation

Maravillas Rojo, on her turn, recalled the coincidence of Barcelona's spirit with the ELEC's ideals: its European vocation and its concern for economic development. Barcelona's Deputy Mayor recalled some of the city's latest achievements in that sense, like the increase in the number of people in employment. She remarked as well that the cities are Eureope's economical motor and that Barcelona is a good example of this.

In order to prove it, Ms. Rojo invited the ELEC deputies to observe that fact personally during their visit these days, to notice the city's big effort towards the investment in infrastructures, like its new fair facilities, its harbour, its airport or the urbanistic transformation undergone by the Poblenou area, that will accommodate in its new 22@ district new companies linked to new activities related to new technologies.

The Councilor ended up her speach by mentioning progress, peace and democracy as the common and essential elements to build Europe's future, and Barcelona's as well.

Mr. Anton Van Rossum, President of the ELEC, completed the reception by acknowledging the organization of this Central Council to Mr. Carles Gasòliba, about whom he said he presides "a magnificent national Committee that is an example for many of us".

After the completion of the official ceremony, the ELEC deputies enjoyed a private visit around the different spaces of the XIVth. century building that houses the Barcelona City Hall.

It is the sixth time that a Central Council is held in Spain. The first one was in 1958 in order to support the first steps of the Spanish committee within the heart of the League. Afterwards, the Council met again in 1966 at a moment when ELEC gave public support to the need of starting up negotiations with Spain towards a preferent agreement with the European Community. The third meeting took place in 1976 and served to show the beginning of the road towards democracy in Spain. Six years later, in 1982, a new Central Council was held to support the negociations for Spain to enter the EEC as a full rights member. The ELEC's meeting in Spain in 1997 was held within the context of the fourth extension and the Amsterdam Treaty.

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