Portbou to establish Walter Benjamin Space for memory and reflection

Sílvia Paneque, the Counselor of Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition, has advocated for the creation of the Walter Benjamin Space in Portbou. The project aims to establish the municipality as a center for memory, thought, and reflection, strengthening its connection to the German philosopher and European memory.

During the institutional tribute to Walter Benjamin, held at the Portbou cemetery as part of the Walter Benjamin International Colloquium, Paneque expressed hope that the new facility could eventually serve as the headquarters for these international conferences. She noted the importance of the event, highlighting the participation of young people as a sign of hope and noting that Portbou is consolidating its role as a space for intellectual and political encounter.

The eighth edition of the colloquium, titled ‘The Right to Have Rights: Hannah Arendt in Today’s World’, focused on the thought of the Jewish-German philosopher, addressing themes such as democracy, human rights, migration, citizenship, and refugees.