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Brussels – The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, denounced this Wednesday the misinformation produced inside and outside Spain about the dana to “intoxicate” and “erode” confidence in the institutions.
“I want to denounce the misinformation processes that have occurred these days, which King Felipe VI denounced so aptly in very difficult moments,” Borrell said in a video statement published on the social network X.
The Spanish politician was referring to the king’s words to explain the tense visit of the Spanish monarchs, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the Valencian regional president, Carlos Mazón, to the town of Paiporta, considered the epicenter of the tragedy that has left more than 200 dead, and where some people threw mud and other objects at the delegation.
Borrell also wanted to denounce “foreign interference that, thanks to the work of our European External Action Service, we know always occurs when we go through critical situations like this.”
“Misinformation, produced from within and outside Spain, seeks only to intoxicate, increase fear and despair, erode confidence in our institutions and our collective strength as a country,” he warned.
“Many citizens have lost everything, including the life of their loved ones. That explains the indignation and frustration that have been expressed” by a part of Spanish society, said the high representative.
Nonetheless, he considered that “it is also necessary to differentiate between the discontent of those who legitimately experience the difficult circumstances they are suffering and the violent and organized action of those who tried to harm instead of alleviate the damage caused by the dana.”
“We should all be united in condemning these acts of violence. Violence, even physical, against state representatives and, in particular, against the Prime Minister, to whom I also want to express my solidarity,” declared Borrell.
“It’s time to work together”
The head of European diplomacy joined the requests of the highest Spanish authorities in the sense that “it is time to work together to mitigate the effects of this tragedy.”
“As a Spanish commissioner and vice president of the Commission, I want to join all those who ask us not to deviate from this priority. There will be time. There will be time to analyze how the response could have been earlier and more effective, to draw consequences from what happened,” he said.
This catastrophe has demonstrated “how supportive our society can be, but also how important it is to have institutions and how important the commitment of the European Union in helping Spain and the affected Spaniards is in facing this tragedy.”
EU Aid
In this regard, Borrell recalled the full availability of the European Union, its institutions, and the member states, to help materially and financially to mitigate the consequences of the floods in Spain, especially in Valencia.
“Today, in light of the magnitude of the catastrophe, I want to reiterate the commitment of the European Union to provide that assistance. Help both to address the emergency and in the great reconstruction effort that will be necessary to undertake and that the Spanish public administrations have already started,” he noted.
He recalled that from the European Commission, the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the Copernicus and SATCEN satellite information systems, and the resources of the European Solidarity Fund were immediately made available to Spain.
Finally, Borrell expressed his regret for the high loss of human lives and material damages and thanked the effort of the thousands of security and defense forces, thousands of volunteers, and the solidarity demonstrated by all of Spain. (November 6)
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