Camilo Castelo Branco served as inspiration for the 32nd General Assembly of the Eixo Atlântico, which this Thursday, 1 February, brought together mayors and mayors from the north of Portugal and Spain in Seide São Miguel, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão.
The meeting was marked by the election of the cross-border association's new Executive Committee, which is now led by the mayor of Viana do Castelo, Luís Nobre, and includes the name of the mayor of Famalicão, Mário Passos.
The mayor of Famalicão recalled the potential of this Euroregion, emphasising the importance of the Atlantic Axis as a space for sharing good practices and close cooperation between Portuguese and Spanish municipalities.
Mário Passos thanked the previous board, led by Ricardo Rio, the mayor of Braga, for their work and assured the new governing bodies, of which he is a member, that they will continue to work to promote the "enormous economic, social and demographic potential" of this territory and that Eixo Atlântico will continue to be an active voice in the defence of the main interests of this Euroregion.
The 32nd General Assembly of the Eixo Atlántico was also marked by the presentation of the political management report for the last four years, the approval of the association's programme and budget for 2024 - totalling 4.8 million euros - and the accession of the municipality of Fafe. Now, the association consists of 42 cities.
"A budget of over 4 million euros was approved and with the addition of Fafe we are now 42 members. This year alone we have already had 7 applications approved for European funds, which guarantees good programme management and good financial health. The conclusion is that the Eixo Atlántico is getting stronger every day," added Xóan-Mao, secretary general of the Eixo.
"We are two territories that are very close to each other, with a very close identity that has managed to find common ground over more than three decades. We have taken on this challenge with the ambition of continuing the work that has been done," said the new president of the Axis, Luís Nobre, who pointed out, among other priorities, the railway, airport infrastructures, strengthening competences in the field of the blue economy and the energy and digital transition.
Made up of 42 cities, the Atlantic Axis of the Northwest Peninsula is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting all initiatives that foster cross-border cooperation.
