The Quierocorredor movement unites 1,800 Madrid business leaders under the banner We risk the future
Seventh gatherings organized by the Valencian Entrepreneurs Association continue as a sustained push for the Mediterranean corridor, with the same rallying cry that has defined the campaign since 2016. The latest march occurred in Madrid, aligning with a national moment as lawmakers prepared for a formal inauguration, while leaders from the Valencian Community observed from a respectful distance about ten kilometers from the stadium complex where the event convened.
Despite participants exercising caution with their devices, AVE members and allied civil society figures gathered to reaffirm a central demand. The crowd included about 1,800 businessmen, regional representatives, and political figures from two of the four autonomous regions through which the corridor passes. The Valencian president and the Murcian president attended the event in Ifema, underscoring persistent frustration with what they perceive as delays in the corridor project. The leaders from Valencia and Murcia criticized the pace, charging that progress appears uneven and concentrated in Catalonia, with the promised work not reaching Murcia and other segments not advancing as promised. Other regional heads from Catalonia and Andalusia did not attend the demonstration, underscoring the divergent regional expectations tied to the rail axis from Algeciras toward the French border.
The Mediterranean corridor is described by supporters as a pivotal link that remains more of a hopeful vision than a completed system, yet it is slowly taking shape as key components move toward completion. The AVE group asserts that sustained pressure over seven years has yielded measurable improvements in studies and planning. The message from the association emphasizes that infrastructure progress required broad civil society involvement and that while the pace has not met expectations, real movement is underway. The AVE president notes the collective strength of business and civic groups as essential to advancing the project, urging continuous action to secure the corridor as a national priority. The sentiment captures a belief that when civil society presses for change, governments respond and the project crosses from concept to concrete implementation. This view is attributed to the AVE leadership and the broader business community that supports faster action to unlock the corridor’s potential for competitiveness and regional cohesion. [Source: AVE]
In a later briefing during the event, the Valencia Cooperation reported that 76 percent of the corridor was under construction and 36 percent in service. The announcement came during a discussion that had to proceed without Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez, who was tied up in an investment plenary. The audience heard from David Lucas, the Secretary of State for Transport, who expressed a firm commitment to completing the corridor from Almería to the French border by 2026 with milestones along the way. He cautioned against promising an exact, full completion date, suggesting that the major portion of the project would be ready by 2030 as the network expands. The discussion also highlighted the 275 kilometers already put into service since 2018, enabling the high-speed network to reach Granada, Elche, Orihuela, and Murcia, with a further 350 kilometers planned for the coming years along with 800 kilometers currently under construction. Additional logistics terminals and port interfaces were noted as part of the broader expansion strategy. [Source: Valencia Cooperation]
The day concluded with panel discussions aimed at mapping the corridor’s impact on mobility and regional growth. The first table featured José Blanco, head of the agency, and Pierre Giacometti, a No Com co-founder with experience in European transport policy. Blanco argued that the Mediterranean corridor is essential because it supports a large share of GDP concentrated along the Mediterranean axis. He recalled efforts from 2010 to secure inclusion of the corridor in trans-European transport networks and credited civil society and political leadership for advancing the cause. Giacometti stressed the need for involvement from French regions and Spanish autonomies, envisioning future gatherings where civil society representatives from Spain and France meet to align goals. He emphasized that a shared narrative often requires broad consensus. [Source: Panel Summary]
Joining the second table were Carlos Bertomeu of Iryo and Air Nostrum, Raül Blanco of Renfe, Javier Rivera of PowerCo Spain, and Hélène Valenzuela of Ouigo Spain. The group validated that there is growing passenger demand for high-speed rail and that this demand will rise with the expansion of the Mediterranean axis. Bertomeu described accelerating the corridor as a competitive necessity that would improve mobility for people and goods alike. Blanco highlighted Renfe’s view of the corridor as having significant potential and positive transport impacts. Valenzuela pointed to Ouigo’s interest in participating as the corridor becomes available to operators, noting that the route is expected to contribute to Spain’s economic, social, and environmental development and to support sustainable mobility. Rivera’s PowerCo Spain team emphasized that the availability of the corridor’s infrastructure is a key factor for attracting new investments aligned with the green transition. [Source: Panel Conclusions]