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The Basque Government’s Secretary General of Foreign Action, Marian Elorza, made a presentation yesterday at the Commission of European Affairs and Foreign Action at the Basque Parliament to present an outline of its activities in regards to this area.  She appeared accompanied by the Director of European Affairs, Mikel Anton, and the new Director of the Basque Community Abroad, Gorka Alvarez Aranburu.  Summary of the presentation and a complete video of her appearance provided below. 

Vitoria-Gasteiz.   The Basque Government’s foreign agenda is marked by the updating of the Basque Country 2020 Strategy to adapt it to the new international context, and the prioritization of “lands of opportunity” that the executive will focus on.

Video of Marian Elorza’s presentation to the Basque Parliament on Tuesday (2h 18' 40'')

As Elorza explained in her presentation, a small country like Euskadi requires “combining wills and efforts” around a common strategy: the updated Basque Country strategy; a co-branded (Basque Country) that serves as a calling card in the world; a geographic prioritization that defines “lands of opportunity,” that the executive will focus on.

Europe

Marian Elorza indicated that Euskadi believes in a social European Union (UE), “focused on people” and advocated to retrieve the values that gave rise to the current EU, for example, safeguarding freedom, democracy, social justice and solidarity.  In this sense, the head of the Ministry’s foreign action highlighted two milestones: the 60^th Anniversary of the treaty of Rome next month, from which the current EU arose, and the reflection process opened by the Presidents of the Country of the EU and the Regional Committee on the future of the EU>

As she explained, Euskadi should take advantage of these two milestones to promote reflection and debate on the construction of Europe, and prepare a document in which the Basque vision on the future of the EU will be reflected.

The Basque Government will continue claiming the Basque presence in those forums where matters falling within its competence and interest are addressed.  This is why it strives to maximize its present in public and private Basque agencies in kinds of networks, initiatives and European programs so that the voice of Euskadi-Basque Country is heard in different places.  For this, the executive will offer advice and assistance customized for promoters of the project, especially in the area of strategy of smart specialization, smart-cities, Horizon 2020, or strategic investments for Europe.

The Secretary of Foreign Action put special emphasis on the transformation that the Euro-region Aquitania-Euskadi has undergone in recent months, with the incorporation of Navarre.  This required that the collaboration of the three that had been interrupted for 17 years resume. She also announced that next March the Euro-region will hold its first assembly with the three participating entities.

International Relations

Beyond Europe, MarianElorza explained that the next four years are going to be dedicated to strengthening relations with international organizations with whom Euskadi already has agreements (ONU Women, PNUD, UNESCO) and formalizing new agreements with others.

In addition, she said that the Basque Government hopes to elaborate the Basque Country 2030 Agenda by implementing the Goals of Sustainable Development.  This includes 17 goals indicated by the United Nations to deal with major humanity problems.  This Basque roadmap will collect specific commitments and mechanisms to evaluation the Basque Executive’s wish to undergo contrast and validation by the UN.

Marian Elorza also advocated for the strengthening of networks of strategic partners through alliances with governments that have shared interests with Euskadi and who occupy leadership positions.  Today, Bavaria, Flanders, Aquitania, Jiangsu and Querétaro comprise this network that Quebec will join shortly. She reminded everyone that Euskadi has institutional delegations and presence in the SPRI network in 76 countries, and that it is part of 75 international networks.  In addition, there are Euskal Etxeak in 25 countries around the world and a total of 41 countries have consular representation in the Basque Country.

Basque Communities: Internation among Diasporas

Finally, the Secretary of Foreign Action referent to the “new Diaspora” that has arisen over the last few year that doesn’t fit into the old schema of emigrating forever, but rather includes new modes of mobility that, often, includes returning.  From there and looking towards the coming years, the aim of the Basque Government is to take care of the needs that this heterogeneous Diaspora has and encourage interaction between the various “Diasporas,” in hopes of taking advantage of this dynamic to project the Basque Country brand in the world.

In this sense, Marian Elorza indicated that the Basque Executive "will continue to strengthen relations with the network of euskal etxeak"; that it will "encourage the creation of new Basque clubs"; and that it will "continue to support the Basque Global Network that the Government presented last July".  As she explained, through this online tool, people in the "Basque community abroad can interact, collaborate, debate and share projects", and make up a “virtual Basque community that helps project Euskadi in the world.”