The Basque country - Special Advertising Section

Nation's Business, Dec, 1990

The Basque Country

Human beings have hardly ever undertaken such an attractive and difficult project as the European Agreement. When Europe was destroyed and in want of a collective illusion in order to unite different peoples, economies, and citizens and get them together into a new single common project, illustrious men and women came up and gave birth to a dream which invited us to move in the same direction. Such dream was the creation of a single space which should overcome all differences and create a new economical, social, and political order based on equity and solidarity.

This is the reason why the United States of Europe, the Single Market, and the unattainable utopia started for the new democratic people, by means of convincing dialogue, never trying to impose their ideas. The Economic Agreement was first; then a minimum market, which has been continuously expanded. Today, there is a new compromise, however: The single European Act.

The challenging Single Act was agreed upon, and it was the purpose of every state member to fulfill their principles before Jan. 1, 1993, for the benefit of every state, but unknowingly the actual dimension. Nevertheless, at this moment and after hearing the report of the European Commission on the expense that giving up this idea would entail, the original idea appears well conceived.

In this context, Euskadi is aware of the uneven distribution of benefits in the would-be Europe between most- and less-favored regions and is confident about the solidarity that economic and social cohesion entails. Thus, Euskadi is hopefully doing her best to face the present challenge, which is to build a new Europe.

Such a project requires a positive, determined, and coordinated action: the Euskadi in 1993 Europe Plan. It is an inter-institution and inter-department plan, based on overcoming obstacles and allowing an even economic development to remove every inequality.

In short, there is a bet behind a date: 1993.

I hope that you will take time to read the following brief overview of the 1993 Europe Plan and Euskadi.

On Jan. 1, 1993, the Single Act will come into force, and as a consequence of this, Europe will take the last and final step toward the creation of a common market throughout which people, goods, services, and capital will flow freely and without any borders. Thus, a wide space will be formed in which states, regions, and individuals will have a better chance to develop socially and economically.

But all this requires, at the same time, a substantial effort directed toward adapting structures and mentality in order to get competence, and harmoniously be a part of the great project of European unity.

It is evident that during this process, public officials have the duty to carry out the necessary projects in order to provide for citizens and companies a suitable way to approach the single European space which is being created.

It is also evident that the Basque Country, together with the other European regions, is actively taking part in the process of building a new Europe, based on respecting and supporting the varied personalities and idiosyncrasies of the peoples belonging to it.

The regions, through their socioeconomic and cultural exchange and cooperative initiatives, are developing an essential role complementary to that of the states toward a whole European integration, as proved by the European Community structures themselves. The Europe of regions and citizens is also on the move.

Both the Basque Government and the County Council Authorities have raised the issue at stake and have seen the need to develop and perform a Special Plan to prepare and adapt Euskadi to the conditions arising in 1993, and to provide an important amount of financial resources for it.

EUROPE '93 arose when the President of the Basque Government committed himself to fulfill the program before the Parliament, during a policy debate held on Sept. 30, 1988.

EUROPE '93 is an inter-institutional program which will take four years (1989-1992) and in which both the Basque Government and the County Councils of the three historical territories will take part. Thus, it is a plan concerning everyone and to which everybody will contribute with work and resources.

Due to the characteristics and magnitude of some of the projects to be carried out, the help of the state's Central Administration will be necessary through special agreements between the former and the Basque Government.

This Special Plan is directed to strengthen and complete other plans of the Basque Government and will create a clearly defined framework with an underlying structure allowing a European relationship toward creating policies based on social cohesion and solidarity.

The General Secretary for the EUROPE '93 Plan depends on the Presidency Secretary of the Basque Government, and it is committed to coordinate the performances of the different institutions taking part in the Plan.

With this Special Plan, the Basque Government has a strategical means of fulfilling two major objectives before 1993, which are: