Casa Mediterráneo Establishes Its High Patronage Under the Presidency of Minister Albares with the Participation of the Mayor of Alicante

Casa Mediterráneo held the inaugural session of its High Patronage on Tuesday afternoon, presided over by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares. The event, which took place in the Ágora Room of the institution's headquarters at the Old Benalúa Station in Alicante, included the participation of Luis Barcala, the Mayor of Alicante, as well as all members of the Governing Council, reaffirming the institutional commitment to Casa Mediterráneo's mission.

The institution's Director General, Juan Andrés Perelló, opened the session with a welcome address, followed by Minister Albares, who highlighted the significance of Casa Mediterráneo as a platform for public diplomacy and cooperation in the region.

The establishment of the High Patronage marks a fundamental milestone in the institutional development of Casa Mediterráneo. It is a body envisaged in its structure since its inception, whose formalization was a pending task, according to sources from the institution. Its implementation "strengthens the governance of the institution and its capacity for action, providing it with a space for strategic advice with key regional actors."

This step will "expand its impact, consolidate its role as a reference centre in the Mediterranean, and strengthen its ties with economic, business, and cultural sectors."

The High Patronage not only strengthens the structure of Casa Mediterráneo but also opens new opportunities for public-private collaboration, according to sources from the entity. Its diverse composition reflects the region's potential, incorporating local public administrations, which represent territorial links and sustainable development; businesses and chambers of commerce, which drive investment, innovation, and internationalization; foundations and innovation centres, which provide knowledge and solutions to shared Mediterranean challenges; media and cultural institutions, essential for projecting the Mediterranean identity, as stated by the same sources.

With the establishment of the High Patronage, "Casa Mediterráneo consolidates itself as a cooperation platform where key actors for the economic, social, and cultural development of the region converge."

This is the list of attendees at Tuesday's event:

Governing Council: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation: Hon. Mr. José Manuel Albares Bueno – Minister

Valencian Government: Mr. Pablo Broseta – Regional Secretary

Alicante City Council: Mr. Luis Barcala – Mayor

Benidorm City Council: Mrs. Lourdes Caselles Doménech

Xàbia City Council: Mrs. Rosa Cardona – Mayor

Provincial Council of Alicante: Mr. Juan de Dios Navarro Caballero – Provincial Deputy

Casa Mediterráneo: Mr. Juan Andrés Perelló Rodríguez – Director General

High Patronage:

AC Marriott: Cristina Rodes Sala – General Manager

Agencia EFE: Antonio Martín – Delegate in Alicante

City Councils of La Vila Joiosa and Santa Pola: Marcos Zaragoza Mayor and Mª Loreto Pomares Serrano

Port Authority of Alicante: Luis Rodríguez González – President

Banc Sabadell: Fernando Canós Mangriñán – Eastern Territorial Director

Carmencita: Jesús Navarro Navarro – President

Hispanic Greek Chamber: Andreas Pappas – President

Valencian Community Chamber Council: Lucía Pascual Valor – Vice President

Chocolates Marcos Tonda: Agustín Llorca – President and María Llorca Cebrián – CEO

ENAIRE Foundation: Margarita Asuar Jiménez – Managing Director

FINNOVA Foundation: Juan Manuel Revuelta – Director General

CONEXUS Foundation: Jorge Rodríguez Esteve – Founding Partner

GDV Mobility: Germán Agulló García – CEO

PRIMA Foundation: Julià Rebés Ventura – Secretary of the Board

Instituto Cervantes: Luis Marina Bravo – Director of International Relations

PLD Space: Aníbal Villalba Fernández – Strategy Chief

REDIT (Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencian Community): Fernando Saludes García – President and Gonzalo Belenguer – Director

THE OCEAN RACE: Richard Brisius – President