The members of the Education Committee of the Council of the European Union (EU), who have traveled to our city to carry out the closing meeting of the Spanish semester, have known at first hand the educational system of Melilla.
“We wanted each of the 27 countries that are here, who are obviously experts in education and who know how in their education system tolerance, multiculturalism and multilingualism are treated, to see how it is done here, in Melilla, which is really worth it,” explained the Chair of the Education Committee of the EU Council and Education Advisor of the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU, María Ángeles Muñoz.
“We were evaluating within the two Ministries, Education, Vocational Training and Sport, and Science, Innovation and Universities, what would be the best place to make a practical visit, a field visit” he explained and, hence, the fact to carry out the conclave in our city. The European delegation has known the IES ‘Leopoldo Quiepo’ and ‘Rusadir’, the CIFP ‘Reina Victoria Eugenia’ and the CEIP ‘Juan Caro y Reyes Católica’.
“Debating is very good, but the added value of this meeting is that we are in direct contact with students and teachers”, he stressed and pointed out that “it has been really exciting how the children, young people and young people of Melilla, have made an incredible effort to speak in English each of the delegates, together with their teachers”. Something, he has apostilled, that “really moved us”.
“When we all pray in favour, when we all go together, it is when the ships advance. And this is what this experience is all about,” said the Chair of the EU Council’s Education Committee.
María Ángeles Muñoz has indicated that it has been an intense semester of work. “During this semester, the Education Committee has been discussing European values, integration, solidarity, what unites us as Europeans,” he explained.
“We had to put a icing on the cake that was great. We have worked hard and now it is time to close, and we must close well and in a big way”, he said in reference to the meeting in Melilla, which will be the last before handing the witness to Belgium.
Europe in Melilla
The Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, has highlighted the importance of this visit, especially since the Presidency of the Council of the European Union is coming to an end, “and we have the honor, here in Melilla, to be able to count on the celebration of this Education Commission that, in addition to giving important visibility to our city, will serve to continue improving in a fundamental area such as education.”
“That our city hosts such a meeting is an honor and a pride, not only as a representative of the Government of Spain, but also as a Melillense,” he stressed.
“Melilla is not understood without Europe and Europe is not understood without Melilla, and therefore I believe that it has been the most appropriate place for counselors to debate and discuss all the strategic lines that will be able to continue to be carried out to improve educational quality not only in our country but also in the rest of the European Union,” he stressed.
But the Delegate also referred to the fact that representatives of the 27 EU Member States have travelled to our city and the importance of returning to their respective countries with a good image of Melilla.
“They must know each and every corner, they must know each and every one of the specificities and particularities. And that is why an agenda has been designed in which, in addition to the meetings themselves, they are having the opportunity to know both our gastronomy, our heritage, as well as our educational centers,” he said.
In addition, “they are going to hold other types of meetings that will help to understand, even more if possible, what our particularities are and above all to value one of our greatest riches as our cultural diversity,” he said. A value, added Moh, that “we must continue exporting” so it has valued this event as important as a platform for this purpose.
Moh has thanked the involvement and collaboration of María Ángeles Muñoz and her team, as well as that of the two Ministries with Melilla so that our city is developing this meeting in the best conditions. “To all my recognition and gratitude, not only for choosing this city as a point for this important commission, but also for the support they give us at all times and that they have given us throughout all these months,” he said.
The Delegate also had words of thanks for the support of the Government that Presides Pedro Sánchez towards Melilla and that have made our city the protagonist of the Presidency of the Commission of the European Union.