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The Mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, participated today in the foundational videoconference of the C-7, the group formed by the seven largest cities in Spain, which have come together to face the serious problems and common challenges posed by large municipalities, the health and socioeconomic crisis generated by the global pandemic of COVID-19;

a telematic meeting that resulted in the approval of the Declaration 'Strong, civic and solidarity cities to get out of the crisis'.

Along with the Murcian councilor, were the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Barcelona, ​​Ada Colau, the Mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, the Mayor of Seville, Juan Espadas, the Mayor of Zaragoza, Jorge Azcón, and the accidental mayor of Malaga, Susana Carillo —the seven most populous capitals in Spain according to the INE—.

“We are facing the largest health and socioeconomic challenge in all of our recent history.

In the first line is to ensure social rights, "said Mayor José Ballesta, who added that" the objective of this first meeting has not only been to coordinate this crisis, but to foresee those that are to come in the future. "

Participation in state and regional plans

This Declaration also considers essential that state and municipal regulatory and fiscal measures are deployed as quickly as possible so that municipalities can adopt their own decisions in a complementary manner and with the utmost immediacy.

In this context, it is necessary that the large municipalities of Spain have active participation in the state and regional plans related to the coronavirus crisis, in which the participation of these municipal administrations is required.

“We are in the first line of exposure.

We need that participation in decision-making and the availability of sufficient resources �, it is collected.

Group C-7 will be established permanently and will have continuity to defend common interests.

Ballesta proposes the authorization of indebtedness through public loans

“Given the decrease in income of local administrations, in the face of the cessation of activities, and the increase in public spending on social and health matters, the municipalities must be equipped with the necessary financial mechanisms to face this situation, protect the more vulnerable and work for economic recovery.

We are the first containment dam in the face of the crisis, "said the mayor, who added that" in many cases it will be necessary to resort to the authorization of indebtedness through loans granted by public entities such as the ICO ".

Eight million inhabitants

"The cities we represent host more than 8 million inhabitants (17% of the Spanish population) on just 0.64% of the national territory.

However, in our municipal terms 25% of Spanish companies are located, 50% of universities, we welcome 30% of foreign visitors to Spain, and more importantly, the territories whose capital we represent host 71.8 % of R&D spending, 72% of full-time research staff and around 80% of technological and scientific innovation �.

The closest Administration

Through the Declaration 'Strong, civic and solidarity cities to get out of the crisis', the municipal governments of these seven Spanish cities join forces to face the serious problems and challenges posed by the health and socioeconomic crisis generated by the global pandemic of COVID-19.

"We subscribe to the following Declaration, which is presented as a fraternal call to all citizens and the rest of the public administrations of the State, with the aim of reinforcing unity, responsibility, solidarity, coordination and cooperation as essential elements for overcome the greatest challenge that Spanish society has suffered in its current democratic stage �, highlights the approved joint text.

Likewise, municipal governments are the administration closest to the inhabitants, the first door to which the neighbors go to raise their needs, “a circumstance that we assume as an unquestionable duty and that often turns us into managers of the measures taken from other administrative areas.

In these exceptional times, it requires maximizing coordination, empathy and loyalty between institutions, "said José Ballesta.

The four axes: economic competitiveness, own cultural personality, social cohesion and environmental sustainability

"We believe in City projects that stimulate the different actors in citizen life and value the human capital of our municipalities.

City projects must be based on an intelligent balance between the following factors: economic competitiveness, own cultural personality, social cohesion and environmental sustainability �, highlighted the mayor of Murcia.

José Ballesta added that “we believe that to govern is not to assume a routine administration but to imagine a better future.

The mere management of municipal budgets has very limited effects on the transformation potential of the city.

This group, made up of municipal governments of different ideologies, arises to assume the responsibility of generating future projects that excite our inhabitants �.

Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia