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Mar Menor municipalities unite for a stronger future
Led by Cartagena, a new association emerges to raise more EU funds and promote local improvements
The municipalities of the Campo de Cartagena have joined forces to create a novel association aimed at uniting to achieve common goals, both on home turf and further afield in Europe. Led by Cartagena Mayor Noelia Arroyo, the alliance brings together almost all the councils in the Mar Menor area with the exception of Mazarrón, which has decided not to join for the time being.
The signing of the 'founding act' of this new supra-municipal entity will take place this Monday February 17 and going forward, each town will be represented by its mayor. Every municipality will have a voice and a vote.
According to Ms Arroyo, the association is not a commonwealth as such, nor is it aimed at sharing urban services. Rather, the objective is to "outline common strategies" regarding issues that concern everyone and "from an open point of view." She also highlighted that this initiative will provide the Mar Menor area with greater "vigour" and "a single voice."
For Mario Cervera, mayor of Los Alcázares, the new entity presents an opportunity to resurrect the old ‘Mar Menor Tourist Association’ but with a broader scope that reaches beyond the tourism industry. He also believes it will bring advantages when applying for European funding, as the region will be able to present one cohesive proposal.
For all of the participating towns, improving infrastructure in the Mar Menor is a key objective, and one of the first issues that will be pushed is the proposal to extend the narrow-gauge railway line (FEVE) from Los Nietos towards Cabo de Palos and northwards along the banks of the Mar Menor.
Mazarrón has decided not to attend the inaugural meeting, and while mayor Ginés Campillo believes the association is a good idea, he maintains that his municipality "is not a district of Cartagena" and in reality has more affinity with the municipalities that make up the Guadalentín Valley than Campo de Cartagena.
Image: Archive
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