The Four Motors for Europe sign a Joint Declaration Following U.S. Tariff Announcement
Picture at the Handover Ceremony of the Four Motors in Varese (Italy) / Arnau Carbonell
On Friday, April 11, representatives of the Four Motors for Europe gathered in Varese for the traditional Handover Ceremony, during which the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, assumed Catalonia’s rotating presidency of the network for 2025-2026.
In his speech during the ceremony, President Salvador Illa stated that Europe must not allow itself to be “intimidated by trade threats from across the Atlantic, nor by threats of war from Russia.” He emphasized that the European Union holds the solutions in its own hands and is already taking action to realize its full potential.
“It is time for action, because I am convinced that we all want a Europe that leads — a Europe of hope, a Europe of enterprise,” said President Illa. “In short, a Europe that is the political subject of its own destiny.”
Joint declaration on tariffs
At the initiative of the Government of Catalonia, and as the first official act under its presidency of the Four Motors, the network’s member regions signed a joint declaration rejecting the tariffs recently announced by the United States. The declaration described the measures as “unjustifiable and damaging,” asserting that they undermine the foundations of the transatlantic partnership, which has historically upheld shared prosperity, open markets, and democratic values.
In the statement, the representatives of the Four Motors called for renewed dialogue and negotiation, and advocated for a “firm, joint, and coordinated response from the European Union and its Member States.”
The declaration further emphasized that “Europe will overcome this crisis by preserving and promoting European values, and by continuing to defend social justice, equality, and cohesion among its regions and citizens.”
Statement by the Four Motors for Europe on the announcement of tariffs by the U.S. Government (PDF)
Programme of the Catalan presidency
During the Handover Ceremony, the President of the Government of Catalonia affirmed Catalonia’s assumption of the Four Motors presidency with a dual commitment: to promote a European Union that is closer, more inclusive, more united, and more reflective of regional diversity; and to strengthen the presence and influence of the four regions within European institutions, with the aim of fostering shared prosperity—considered the most effective guarantee for the future of Europe.
The Catalan presidency will focus its agenda on four strategic pillars aligned with broader European priorities: leading innovation in advanced technologies; strengthening strategic autonomy, security, and resilience; promoting decarbonisation as a competitive advantage; and advancing an inclusive economic model.