Sánchez, in remembering victims of terrorism: "May the values of peace, coexistence, truth, justice and reparation guide us in this endeavour"

Gallery of the Royal Collections, Madrid

The event, presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen, and organised by the European Commission, was attended by its Vice-President, Margaritis Schinas, and the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. Representatives of the Government of Spain, such as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, the Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, and the Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, as well as the President of the Lower House of Parliament, Francina Armengol, the President of the Upper House of Parliament, Pedro Rollán, and the Belgian Minister for Home Affairs, Annelies Verlinden, also took part in the event.

The President of the Government of Spain recalled that "20 years ago, this was a city in shock, deeply wounded". He referred to the attacks of 11 March 2004, in which 192 people died and almost 2,000 were injured, and stated that, although Spain already had a very harsh experience of terrorism, "nobody can get used to this blind violence, nobody should get used to living with barbarity".

In this regard, he stressed the need to remember "as a matter of dignity". He argued that "this remembrance must keep alive the memory of what happened in the past, but it must also be a spur for the present and for the future, so that it does not happen again, and so that the victims, survivors and relatives can always count on our solidarity and our affection".

During the event, the testimonies of three surviving victims of terrorism, from Spain, Slovenia and Italy, respectively, were heard. Ana Cristina López Royo, a victim of the 11 March attacks, said that "the event left me scarred forever, but it also left me with the most incredible image of solidarity that anyone can imagine". She also called for recognition for the victims and the need to "not leave them alone, dignifying them without complexes or fear" and emphasised the fact that "terrorism is also the sole intention to do harm".

Pedro Sánchez stressed the importance of remembering "to defend the human rights that terrorists deny, and to reinforce the rule of law, which is their main vaccine". "And also to protect Europe. Not only as a physical space, but as an ideal of justice and freedom; of humanist and civilising values", he stressed.

He also stressed that "democracy, the rule of law and social rights are the hallmarks of a united Europe that fanatics of all stripes will never be able to destroy".

The president highlighted the value of the European ideal, "which is built on the collective successes achieved in these decades of union. But also about shared pain in adversity". He referred to the community of values that unite the EU, highlighting 'solidarity' among them, "the value that most contributes to creating an awareness of European citizenship. On it stands our determination to fight together against barbarism by strengthening cooperation at all levels.

In this context, the President of the Government of Spain stated that "combating terrorism also means acting against the causes that feed regional conflicts, poverty and underdevelopment. It is to prevent fanatics from turning desperation into a weapon to attack the principles of freedom and respect for human rights so closely associated with the European ideal".