• Marisol Garmendia receives the consular corps in Bilbao and states that “now, more than ever, it is necessary to influence the defense of democracy and scare away populism”

The delegate of the Government of Spain in the Basque Country, Marisol Garmendia, held a meeting with the Consular Corps accredited in Bilbao in order to convey to the consuls their desire to “strengthen ties, strengthen institutional collaboration and continue building bridges between our peoples”. The reception offered this morning at the Government Subdelegation in Bizkaia has encouraged dialogue between the attendees and Marisol Garmendia as well as the mutual willingness to explore new forms of collaboration.

The delegate of the Government has valued the work of the Insular Corps when more than 100 years have passed since its presence in Bilbao. “You are indispensable interlocutors to promote friendship, protect the interests of your resident or passing citizens, and facilitate understanding between governments. His work, often discreet, but always essential, helps to bring our societies closer together. Their work remains essential to strengthen ties between our countries, to serve those far from their land and to project an image of respect, dialogue and mutual understanding.”

The global challenges remain in force and are even increasing, as the Government delegate has recalled. Hence the importance of collaboration between countries. “Diplomacy, multilateral cooperation and the defence of the common interest are more necessary tools than ever.”

Marisol Garmendia has reiterated to the consuls the importance of their work to protect the societies they serve. “Now more than ever, it is necessary to advocate for democracy, to ward off populism and to remove identities that tend to close on themselves and that can undermine the model of coexistence that we have endowed ourselves with and that allows us to live and move forward together. Faced with the rapprochement, you represent openness, human contact, collaboration between States…”

The Government delegate took advantage of the meeting to convey to the consuls her full willingness to collaborate. “Count on this government delegate as an ally. Our commitment to institutional cooperation and mutual respect is strong. Let us take advantage of it to promote shared projects, to build new bridges between our territories and to promote together a more open, more humane and fairer future”, he concluded.