nº81. alea 2008

Euskadi,Euskadi, aa competitivecompetitive countrycountry

THE UNIVERSITY OF COLUMBIA GAVE THE KONPONDU.NET INITIATIVE THE THUMBS UP AURKIBIDEA / SUMMARY

3 • Aurkezpena Achievements and challenges for Euskadi. José María Agirre Eskisabel. GAURKO GAIAK / CURRENT EVENTS: nº81. alea 2008 Euskadi, a competitive country 4 • Leading human development 6 • The Basque Country’s per capita income exceeds the EU-27 average by 36% 9 • In 2007 Euskadi approached full employment with an unemployment rate of just 3.1% Euskadi, a competitive country 12 • The integral Basque environmental policy, in

THE UNIVERSITY OF COLUMBIA GAVE THE synch with European policy KOONPONDU.NET INITIATIVE THE THUMBS UP 14 • 66% of Basque companies are innovative, versus 54.3% in 16 • The Basque Education System performs well Leonardo/Erasmus, two education schemes within the European Union

n° 81. alea - 2008. urtea 20 • konpondu.net - Building peace

Azaleko argazkia/ Cover photo: EUSKAL GAZTEAK MUNDUAN Mikel Arrazola 22 • Diego Ardohain and Eli Gorostegi

EGILEA / AUTHOR Eusko Jaurlaritza-Kanpo Harremanetarako Idazkaritza Nagusia EUSKADITIK / Basque Government – General Foreign Affairs Secretary/Gobierno 24 • The Lehendakari participated in the demonstration Vasco-Secretaría General de Acción defending Basque institutions Exterior 25 • The Joaquín Achúcarro Foundation was set up in Dallas C/ Navarra, 2 01007 VITORIA- GASTEIZ 26 • The Basque Innovation Agency, Innobasque, has more Telephone: +34 945 01 79 00 [email protected] than 400 members

ZUZENDARIA / DIRECTOR Josu Legarreta Bilbao FOREIGN AFFAIRS KOORDINAKETA ETA IDAZKETA Kazeta5 Komunikazioa 27 • Ana Agirre met 40 representatives from Basque companies working in China [email protected] 28 • The Minister for Justice, Employment and Social Security signs agreements in the ARGITARATZAILEA / PUBLISHER Dominican Republic and Chile Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia Servicio Central de Publicaciones del EUSKAL ETXEAK Gobierno Vasco 29 • Jon and Nicolás Uriarte, awarded “Clarín” prizes for sport DISEINU ETA MAKETAZIOA / LAYOUT AND DESIGN Didart CUISINE INPRIMATZAILEA / PRINTING xxxxxxx. 31 • Restaurante Zazpirak Bat Stuffed sardines ISSN: 1579-4229 L.G./D.L.: BI-1090-01 Opening letterPresentation

Basque Government Consultant JOSÉ MARÍA AGIRRE ESKISABEL for Economic-Social Affairs

Achievements and challenges for Euskadi

he Basque economy has not market, looking at how many health systems available for every simply caught up but has people are actively working and Basque Country resident. overtaken the current unemployment figures. Today, the This labor market evolution Taverage figures for the 27 Basque Country has 300,000 more and economic growth data states in the European Union. If workers than twelve years ago and illustrate that we have come the average wealth generated per unemployment has dropped to through our first great economic person in the European Union approximately 3% (one of the transformation, to meet European counts as 100%, the Basque lowest rates in the European Union challenges successfully. Now Country’s figures go way beyond Union). Twelve years ago the we must tackle our second great this, reaching a level of 136%. The unemployment rate was over 20%. economic transformation: Basque Country’s economy has With this economic growth and grown 4% annually for the last the current employment situation, innovation. This is our challenge twelve years making their game of men and women in the Basque for the next few years, aiming to catch-up with Europe a thing of Country have achieved a level of set a benchmark for innovation in the past. professionalism and well-being that Europe. In other words, this is the Another way of looking at the has been inconceivable up to now. Basque Country’s challenge to Basque Country’s economic This prosperity can be seen in make the major definite leap evolution is to follow the labor social services, education and towards innovation.

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 3 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA Leading human development

Euskal gizartea planetako oparoenetakoa The last United Nations Development Programme’s eta garatuenetakoa da. Hala adierazten du (UNDP) report in 2004, established a global list of 177 States, ranked in order of their living conditions. Eustatek egindako ikerketa batek. The study allocates each state a Human Development Herrialdeen gizarte ongizatea neurtzeko Index (HDI) on a scale of 0 to 1, depending on life Nazio Batuek erabilitako sistema du expectancy at birth, literacy rate among over 15s, oinarri Eustaten ikerlanak. access to education and GDP per capita.

he Basque Country can compete with Norway, Eustat (Basque Institute of Statistics) has been Iceland and Australia in terms of the highest calculating the Basque Country’s HDI since 2001 levels of human development in the world. using exactly the same methodology. The 2007 TEach year the United Nations produces version concludes that Basque society is one of the statistics to measure social well-being and progress most prosperous and best developed on the planet. made by almost all States on the planet, taking into With an HDI of 0.959, it stands third, behind account life expectancy at birth, adult literacy rates, Norway (0.965) and Iceland (0.960) and in front of enrolment rates at different education levels and Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, Japan and GDP. United States, in that order.

Norway Iceland Basque Country Australia Ireland Sweden Canada Japan United States Switzerland The Finland Luxemburg Belgium Austria Denmark United Kingdom New Zealand Chile Uruguay Cuba

4 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

The UN report puts Spain in 19th traffic accidents alone, included as place with 0.938. Niger brings up Basque society is one an external cause, the reduction the rear with 0.311. stands at five months for men and of the most prosperous only two months for women.

Recent Improvements and best developed on The education indicator also does well because of the high score in Since 2001, the average Eustat the planet. the over 15s literacy sub index. On index had risen from 0.940 to the other hand, if the sub index currently stand at 0.959 although combining primary, secondary and the Basque Country continues to improve all aspects post secondary education ratios is taken into measured by the HDI. account, the Basque Country falls behind other regions. The Basque Country’s strong position is, above all, down its high life expectancy at birth: the highest in As for GDP per inhabitant, always measured in terms the world, after Japan and Hong Kong. It stands on of purchasing power parity for each country, the an equal footing with Iceland at 80.9 years. Since Basque Country has risen to 30,500 euros annually, 1976, life expectancy in the Basque Country has although still a long way off the US’s 37,500 euros. increased 6.8 years for both men and women. Basque With the current exchange rate standing at 1 women born in 2005 can expect to live to 84.26 euro=1.45 US dollars, this would give 44,225 years old while men’s life expectancy stands at 77.2. dollars for the Basque Country and 54,375 for the US. In terms of public health, tumors are the major threat to life expectancy. If they could be completely Within the Basque Country, Álava has attained an eliminated, men would live four and a half years HDI of 0.971 standing out in front of the other longer and women three years. On the other hand, provinces. It registers the highest rates of life damage caused by external causes of death is expectancy, academic registration and personal slighter, reducing lives by little more than one year income. , in particular, has the highest level for men and five months for women. Just looking at of adult literacy.

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 5 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

The Basque Country’s per capita income exceeds the EU-27 average by 36%

Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoko per capita errenta Espainiako batez bestekoa baino % 31 handiagoa da, eta Europakoa baino % 36 handiagoa. Horren arrazoia okupazio-tasa handia eta produktibitatea dira.

GDP PER CAPITA (PPP = Purchasing Power Parity) : EVOLUTION

Basque Country Spain EU-27

Basque C. Spain EU-27

6 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

he Basque Country’s spectacular economic which –as has been shown- is 30% higher than in growth over the last 25 years has not been Spain, 12% higher than the EU-15, although still down to pure chance, but it is reaping the 20% behind the US. Tbenefit of a series of timely strategic decisions made by institutions, the business sector and Basque society in general. That is how the Basque Institute of Employment and productivity rate results Competitiveness describes the situation in the Basque Country Competitiveness Report stating that the The increase in Basque per capita income has been Basque population enjoys 20% higher per capita particularly vigorous and constant since 1995. With the income than Spain and 12% higher than the exception of Ireland (whose improved position is greatly European average. linked to foreign capital penetration, consequently reducing its spectacular growth significantly if the per From 1980, after the Gernika Statute was approved, capita income were to be calculated with the GNP, a series of powers was transferred to Basque instead of the GDP) and some expanding countries institutions creating the starting point for the (whose improving income levels are partly explained by comparative data appearing in this article. The starting from a much lower level), the Basque Country Basque Country began with slightly higher per capita is one of the regions included in this chart with the income than Spain, although clearly lower than the strongest income growth in this period. As a European Union (comprising 15 countries at the consequence, it is only eclipsed by Luxembourg, Ireland, time) and way below the United States. However, if Holland, Denmark (in the EU) and the US. we draw a veil over the first years of this period, when the Basque Country lost ground not only to the EU- The Basque Country’s excellent position is only 15 and the US, but also to Spain, the rest of the tarnished if it is compared with regions within the EU- period, with the exception of stagnant per capita 15 rather than countries. In 2004, according to the income growth during the crisis in the early 90’s, the REGUE database*, the Basque Country stood 66th in a Basque Country’s per capita growth clearly outstrips list of 146 European regions in terms of per capita Spain and the EU-15, even out-performing the income expressed in euros, although in terms of per American economy. As a consequence, the Basque capita income improvement over the 1995-2004 period, Country has attained a PPP (Purchasing Power its position was better: seventeenth. In accordance with Parity) of 30,000 euros per capita income in 2006, the “Regions. Statistical yearbook 2007” publication,

LEVEL AND VARIATION OF PER CAPITA INCOME IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY AND SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THE US

*REGUE: a regional innovation and competitiveness systems database produced jointly by the IAIF from the Complutense University in Madrid and the Basque Institute of Competitiveness.

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 7 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

using data from 2004, the Basque Country has joined lower productivity, since this has grown at a similar the group of regions with the highest per capita income rate to the Basque Country (1.4% and 1.6% (expressed in PPP): 125% above the EU-27. respectively). So, the Basque Country demonstrates greater per capita income improvement than Spain This per capita income can be explained as the due to greater productivity improvements, and to a combined result of the employment rate (measured as lesser extent, its employment rate; compared to the a percentage of employment over population) and the EU-15 and the US, the Basque Country has improved apparent work productivity (measured as GDP per its position because it has managed to increase its employee). While the former, having reached a certain employment rate. level, hits social and physical growth limits, the latter could grow indefinitely in the mid and long term Per capita income performance has not been insofar as it fundamentally depends on technology consistent over the entire period. If we were to and innovation. This capability to improve long term characterize two long periods: 1980-1995 and 1995- well-being explains why many analysts consider 2006, the Basque Country made an outstanding productivity comparable to competitiveness. improvement in the latter period, achieving growth of 1.2 annual percentage points over Spain, 1.7 over the Over the entire period, the Basque Country’s per US and 2.3 over the EU-15. In the case of Spain, the capita growth (over 3% of the cumulative annual difference is fundamentally due to a higher rate of growth rate) has leveled out equally in both areas. In productivity growth (1.1% in the Basque, versus Spain, less growth in per capita income (practically 0.1% in Spain), whilst the Basque Country’s income 0.6 percentage points less) can mainly be explained improvement over the EU-15 and the US rests solely by lower contribution from productivity (0.4) and, to on increases in the employment rate (2.8% in the a lesser extent, by the employment rate (0.2). On the Basque Country, versus 0.6% in the EU-15 and 0.3% other hand, the lower growth rates for EU-15 and US in the US) and not productivity: in fact, productivity per capita income (growing at rates of 1.8% and 2% growth is lower in the Basque Country (1.1%) than respectively) is due to the lower employment growth in the US (1.9%) over this period. (0.5% and 0.4% respectively), but is not down to

PER CAPITA GDP (PPP) : EU-27 RANKING

Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg Denmark The Netherlands Ireland Austria Austria The Netherlands The Netherlands Denmark Basque Country Belgium Ireland Austria Germany Belgium Denmark Sweden Sweden Belgium Italy Germany Sweden UK Basque Country UK France Finland Finland Ireland Italy Germany Finland UK France Basque Country France Italy EU 27 EU 27 Spain Spain Spain EU 27 Cyprus Cyprus Greece Greece Greece Cyprus Malta Malta Slovenia Portugal Slovenia Czech Rep. Slovenia Portugal Malta Czech Rep. Czech Rep. Portugal Slovakia Hungary Estonia Hungary Slovakia Hungary Poland Poland Slovakia Estonia Estonia Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania Latvia Latvia Latvia Poland Bulgaria Bulgaria Romania Romania Romania Bulgaria THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

The Basque Country approached full employment in 2007 with an unemployment rate of just 3.1%

Euskadiko langabezi kopurua which continued to fall to 3.1% in 2007. As a %3,1era jaitsi da. consequence, the Basque Country easily falls within what experts consider full employment,under 5%. Iaz errekorra lortu zen: 974.400 pertsona lanean. Last year,the unemployment figures registered in the Basque National Employment Institute stood at n the Basque Country, 66.5% of people aged 74,852.This dropped by 1,621 (-2.13%), placing it between 16 and 64 have a job, and it third as a region in terms of slowing unemployment over consequently stands thirteenth in Europe in the last year.In the fourth quarter of 2007, there were Iterms of employment rates. With just 3.1% of 31,400 unemployed people in the Basque Country, the the population unemployed, it is close to what is lowest figures since statistics began. Álava deserves a known as full employment. Employment records were special mention, as only 3,000 people are unemployed smashed in 2007 with a grand total of 974,400 giving an unemployment rate of 2%. people going out to work. During this same period a total of 2,500 jobs were created. By gender,the Basque male unemployment rate is the fifth lowest in Europe.The most spectacular evolution The spectacular results in terms of reducing can be seen in the female unemployment rate,which has unemployment in the Basque Country come shining dropped from 33% little over a decade ago to 7.1% on through in the statistics. In 1994 the unemployment average in 2005,the fifth lowest in Europe. rate rose to 25% for men and 35% for women. Eleven years later it had dropped to 5.7% (4.1% for men and Regarding the long term unemployment rate (people 4.5% for women), the EU-25’s seventh lowest rate, who have not worked for a year or more), the Basque

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 9 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

Country has risen from the very bottom of the European pile in 2000 to stand tenth in 2004. Regarding the long term unemployment rate, the Basque Country has risen from The unemployment rate dropped 0.3 points in 2007.Out of 74,582 people registered as unemployed at the end of the very bottom of the European pile in last year in the Basque Country, 31,068 were men and 43,514 were women. Furthermore, 5,677 out of the 2000 to stand tenth in 2004. total number were under 25. By province, the biggest decrease in unemployment in 2007 was seen in Bizkaia, with 1,027 no longer claiming benefits, constituting a 2.43% drop. Nevertheless, unemployment also fell in the unemployment rate for young people under 25 Gipuzkoa, with 531 less unemployed (-2.26%) and in continued to decrease to 7.5%,compared to 50% in the Álava,where 63 less people were registered,0.60% less early 90’s. than in 2006. As a result, the number of people unemployed at the close of 2007 was 41,151 in Bizkaia, 22,932 in Gipuzkoa and 10,499 in Álava. Record number of people employed in 2007

By sectors, the greatest unemployment levels were The Lisbon strategy (the European Union’s found in the service sector (48,603 unemployed).This development plan, approved by the European Council in was followed by industry with 13,391,construction with Lisbon in March 2000, with the strategic objective of 7,073,the ‘without prior employment’group with 4,713 turning the Union’s economy into the most competitive and agriculture with 802. and dynamic in the world,before 2010) intends to attain a 70% employment rate by 2010 (67% in 2005).From Unemployment dropped in a similar fashion for both 57.7% in 2000, the Basque Country has come close to men and women, so that by the end of 2007 the number the 67% set in the Lisbon strategy for 2005. This of men continued to slightly exceed women. As for age, represents an extraordinary leap. The EU-25 has

EMPLOYMENT RATE (AGE 15-64): EVOLUTION

10 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

improved by one point over this period. The Basque Bizkaia, the province with the highest unemployment, Country stands thirteenth in Europe in terms of created the most work in 2007. Employment in Álava employment rates. Since 2000, it has overtaken five also increased while it dropped in Gipuzkoa. Another countries but it still has a long way to go. positive note in the Basque labor market last year involved an increase in labor stability, finally meeting In the case of female employment, the Lisbon Strategy one of the unions’ long-running demands. The number set a rate of 60% by 2010 (57% in 2005).From 43.3% of workers on temporary contracts only totals in 2000, the Basque Country has come close to the 23.12%, setting an unprecedented record for many 64.5% set for 2005.The figures speak for themselves. years. The incentives provided for full time contracts The EU-25 only improved two points in this period. after the 2006 labor reform have influenced this Nevertheless, in relative terms, there is still strong evolution. potential to increase female employment.The Basque Country has still not attained European levels. In the last year,a net total of 2,500 jobs were created, according to the Working Population Survey (PRA) run The 2007 fiscal year closed at record levels with by Eustat. 974,400 people in work. The vast majority of new jobs were created for women, As far as the last quarter is concerned, compared with namely, 2,000 out of 2,500 new jobs. 2,600 net jobs the previous quarter, the labor market made a clear were created In Bizkaia and 900 in Álava, whilst improvement in both employment and active Gipuzkoa lost 1,000 jobs. By sector,the service sector population. This factor provided a slight increase in created the most jobs, providing 6,400 additional jobs, unemployment (600 people). Over the last few years, followed by construction with a net increase of 1,800 both areas have tended to recover towards the end of the jobs. On the 0other hand, 5,300 industry jobs and 400 year. Industry lost 1,900 jobs between October and primary sector jobs were lost. December,while construction created another thousand despite the fall in the real estate market.

EMPLOYMENT RATE (AGE 15-64): EU-27 RANKING

Denmark Denmark Denmark Sweden Sweden The Netherlands Austria The Netherlands Sweden United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom The Netherlands Austria Austria Germany Portugal Cyprus Portugal Finland Finland Finland Cyprus Ireland France Germany Estonia Luxembourg Ireland Portugal Belgium Czech Rep. Germany Greece Romania Slovenia Ireland Slovenia Basque Country Italy Luxembourg Latvia Basque Country EU 27 Czech Rep. Spain France Spain EU 27 Belgium EU 27 Cyprus Estonia Luxembourg Slovakia Lithuania Lithuania Slovenia Basque Country France Estonia Latvia Belgium Hungary Slovakia Greece Latvia Greece Slovakia Lithuania Spain Romania Malta Hungary Bulgaria Poland Poland Italy Czech Rep. Malta Hungary Romania Italy Malta Bulgaria Bulgaria Poland

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 11 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

The Basque integral environmental policy in synch with European policy

n 4 June 2002, the Basque Cabinet of Ministers approved the Basque Environmental Strategy for Sustainable ODevelopment (2002-2020) and the first Environmental Framework Programme (2002-2006), giving this issue a long-term strategic view in synch with the commitment made at the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, to prepare sustainable development strategies in each territory. The Basque Environmental Strategy for Sustainable Development establishes five environmental goals and five necessary Garapen Iraunkorrerako Euskal conditions promoted primarily by Basque public Ingurumen Estrategia onartuta, administration. These targets and conditions have been Euskadik lehendabiziko aldiz set alongside the European Union Strategy for ingurumen politika integrala du. sustainable development and the Sixth Environment Estrategia Europar Batasuneko Action Programme. By approving this Strategy, the ingurumen politika aintzat hartuta Basque Country now has an integral environmental dago diseinatuta. policy, designed to work in synch with the European Union’s environmental policy.

12 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 5 ENVIRONMENTAL AIMS FOR THE BASQUE COUNTRY

1 2 GUARANTEEING CLEAN, RESPONSIBLE NATURAL RESOURCE AND WASTE HEALTHY AIR, WATER AND MANAGEMENT SOIL In 2003, 10.7 million kilograms of waste was produced. 97% of it was not Currently, only 15% of water is dangerous and 3% was considered hazardous.Out of the total 5,196 kilograms untreated and 211 hectares of of waste produced annually per person,419 correspond exclusively to household contaminated soil were recovered waste (if municipal waste with institutional, industrial and commercial origins between 1990 and 2003. The is considered, then this amount increases to 588 kilograms annually); 2,048 Government committed to reducing kilograms come from the primary sector; 1,872 kilograms from industry; 732 total pollutants dumped into public kilograms from the construction sector and 124 from the service sector.One canals and coastal areas by 50%, hundred percent of dangerous industrial waste has been managed since 1998. complying with air quality targets Selective collection of urban waste has increased by a factor of 16 between set by the European Union, 1990 and 2001.One out of every three kilograms of municipal waste is currently recovering 20% of polluted public collected selectively (188 kilograms per person and year).The Government land and establishing food labeling proposes to reduce urban waste being sent to landfill by up to 75% of the total for human consumption, indicating quantity generated.It hopes to change growing trends in water consumption per production methods. inhabitant and reduce water losses by 20% of the total consumption by 2012.

3 4 PROTECTING NATURE AND MOBILITY AND TERRITORIAL BALANCE: A COMMON BIODIVERSITY: FOCUS STRENGTHENING THIS The aim is to reduce mobility needs,by discouraging activities and urban UNIQUE TREASURE uses that represent an increase in automobile use. The Government 54% of Basque territory is wooded proposes to increase use of public transport by 10% over total passenger forest land. 15% of the surface is transport in key urban areas.This intends to reduce the use of road protected (Urdaibai and Txingudi transportation by 2012, transferring demand to railroad, shipping and coastal wetlands, seven nature public transport. reserves and five protected biotypes). The target is to increase this area to 25-30% by creating environmental correctors. Six of the Basque 5 Country’s wetlands are included in LIMIT THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC CHANGE the List of Wetlands of International This aims to meet targets for reducing greenhouse gases, in the Kyoto Importance or Ramsar List. The aim agreement, by 2012. The Basque Government has committed to includes establishing management increasing the use of renewable energy by 2012 following European plans for one hundred percent of the Union objectives,namely meeting 4% of Basque energy demand in 2003. species classified as being in danger It will promote subsidized housing equipped to use solar energy and it has of extinction and recovering a also become involved in installing photovoltaic solar energy panels in minimum of 15 kilometers of river Basque schools. bank.

NECESSARY CONDITIONS To continue down the straight and narrow, the Basque Public Administration considers that five conditions should be met: integrate the environmental variable within other policies; improve existing legislation and its implementation; urge the market to act in favor of the environment; train and prepare the population, authorities and companies, and change their behavior towards greater sustainability; lastly, research, technological development and innovation in environmental issues.

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 13 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

66% of Basque companies are innovative, versus 54.3% in Europe

2006an I+G gastua, BPGaren drop of 6.3% on 2005. The business and university proportzioarekin alderatuta, % 1,47ra sector on the other hand, spent 10% more than the iritsi zen. Inbertsioa 908 milioi eurokoa previous year. izan zen. Gastu horretatik, Bizkaiari 420 Regarding Bizkaia, it is worth mentioning that the milioi euro dagozkio (% 46), Gipuzkoari Government’s expenditure in 2006 increased by 17% 363 milioi euro (% 40), eta Arabari, compared to 2005. It continues to be the province with berriz, 125 milioi euro (% 14). the greatest average university weighting (20.6% of Bizkaia’s total), mainly because the University of the n 1980, the Basque Country hardly invested in Basque Country’s Science Faculties are all located on innovation (R&D expenditure was 0.1% of GDP) the Leioa campus. and a decade later, we are witnessing spectacular Igrowth (said ratio reached 1.2% in 1991). In Gipuzkoa, the area with the least relative Investment came to a standstill between 1991 and expenditure continues to be the Government (0.9% of 1997; from that day on, the growth rate picked up, to Gipuzkoa’s spending),while companies reap the benefit the point where, R&D expenditure in 2006 hit 1.47% of its specific business fabric and the greater presence of GDP in the Basque Country. This figure, although of technology centers.The good university sector level higher than in Spain (1.1%), clearly falls short of should also be emphasized: with a high proportion of the EU-15 (1.9%) and the US (2.7%). technology faculties, it has increased resources intended for R&D by 20%. In 2006, a total of 908 million euros (1.47% of GDP) was The importance of financing invested in Scientific Research 31% of the business companies themselves (61%), in and Technological Development terms of private research resources, activities in the Basque Country. sector’s R&D spending puts all the provinces above the 420 million euros (46%) of this state average (47%) and on a level expenditure corresponds to comes from small with countries like Germany, USA, Bizkaia, 363 to Gipuzkoa (40%) companies. Switzerland and Belgium. and 125 to Álava (14%). Engineering and technology The effort made by Gipuzkoa in continue to require the highest 2006 can be clearly seen by comparing R&D spending levels of spending and employ the largest number of as a percentage of GDP,which reached 1.79%,showing people in all the provinces. Nevertheless, the an eight hundred percent increase on the previous year expenditure percentage from each province fluctuates according to data provided by Eustat. As this indicator between a maximum of 81% in Gipuzkoa, 74% in stood at 1.34% in Bizkaia and 1.22% in Álava, all Alava and a minimum of 67% in Bizkaia. three provinces exceeded the figure for Spain (1.20%), but fell short of the European average (1.84%). Regarding female participation in R&D activities,32% of workers in Álava are women compared to 29% in Internal R&D spending increased 10% on the previous Gipuzkoa and 35% in Bizkaia. year. Gipuzkoa exceeded this average with a 14% increase, whilst Álava and Bizkaia grew 9% and 8%, Companies with less than 50 employees contributed respectively. 31% of R&D spending in the business sector. This percentage rises to 41% in Álava, dropping to 28% in As for the field of execution, each province presents Gipuzkoa while Bizkaia (31%) meets the Basque different peculiarities. In Álava, we should highlight Country average. spending in the field of Public Administration, which is 5.7% of Álava’s total expenditure, corresponding to In the 2002 Barcelona European Council Meeting, the several Government-dependant bodies and despite a R&D/GDP expenditure ratio target was set at 3% for

14 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

the year 2010. The Basque Country therefore has a long way to go to reach that figure.The most positive point here is the high level of effort and involvement from Basque companies in terms of financing R&D, with 66% participation versus the European average of 54.3%.

However, we should not ignore the remarkable figures corresponding to the number of researchers. Only four countries have a higher ratio of researchers per million inhabitants. Up to 1999, this figure fell short of the EU-25 average.In 2004,the Basque Country had 3,489 researchers per million inhabitants, compared to a European average of 2,385. Nevertheless, the current high number of part-time researchers should be highlighted.Within this indicator,it has risen from tenth position in 1995 to fifth in 2004.

The number of patents corresponding to Basque inventors at the EPO (European Patent Office) per million inhabitants grew Regions,the European Union Statistics Office),but the considerably between 1990 and 2002 (last year for number continues to be three or four times lower than which there is relatively complete data from Eurostat- the EU-15 average or the US.

R&D / GDP EXPENDITURE: EVOLUTION

2006 2010 objective

Basque C. Spain EU-27

* The target set by the current legislature is in line with Europe

*** Barcelona European Council 2002

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 15 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

The Basque Education System is performing well

Euskal Hezkuntza Sistema ekitatiboa da eta countries and some non member countries. It is a errendimendu maila ertaina duten 15 prospective and comparative study to evaluate skills urteko gaztetxoen populazio-tasa altua du. which started in 2000 in the subjects of mathematics, sciences and reading. Hala adierazi du Ikasleak Ebaluatzeko Nazioarteko Programak (PISA) egindako Students participating in PISA were aged 15, with 8- nazioarteko probak. 10 years left in the education system. In the Basque Country’s case, 76% of these students are on the point he Basque Education System is fair, with a high of finishing their compulsory education. percentage of the population aged 15 performing at an intermediate level, according The main objective of the evaluation is to try to find out Tto the Program for International Student about training,preparation and skills attained by young Assessment (PISA) testing. people to use their knowledge and meet the challenges of a global economy effectively.We can consider that The PISA evaluation proposal is promoted by the when students reach the age of 15, they should have Organization for Economic Co-operation and developed the basic characteristics required to tackle Development (OECD), an intergovernmental the challenges of today’s society. organization for industrial countries that acts as a promotional forum for member states’ social and The PISA evaluation project offers a comparable economic development. Basque students have international perspective and provides data on how participated in this evaluation alongside other OECD basic skills are developed in each education system.

16 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

mathematics remaining steady and a drop, although The report positions Basque students as insignificant,in reading levels.

average in the OECD in the three areas The difference between boys and girls has also been reduced. This aspect has been evolving to give of sciences, mathematics and reading, reasonably similar performances in science and mathematics, although this does not hold true for which are the subjects that have been reading,where girls far out-perform boys.This occurs in all participating countries. taken into account for this study. Regarding the language used in the test, it has been confirmed that boys and girls are not affected by using On the OECD average Basque or Spanish as long as it is the language they use on a daily basis. The report positions Basque students as average in the OECD in the three areas of sciences, mathematics and reading, which are the subjects that have been taken Half the world’s students into account for this study. Furthermore, the results obtained in all three areas are balanced, meaning that Taking into account the number of countries students do not perform better or worse in any of the participating in this project,the 2006 PISA results give three subjects. On the other hand, the percentage of an educational snapshot of slightly more than half the Basque students who do not attain the lowest world’s population within this 15 year age band.The performance levels is lower than OECD levels in all Basque Country has participated formally through the subjects. Ministry of Education and Science’s Institute of Evaluation (IE) by means of an agreement with the Taking into account that the Basque Country has only organization and the consortium of companies in charge participated in two PISA editions, it might be of its development. premature to point out clear trends in the results. Nevertheless, both evaluations provide valuable The process of preparing material, translation, editing, information which means that by working according to application and initial data processing has been carried the Basque Institute for Evaluation and Research in out by the ISEI-IVEI (Basque Institute for Education Education we can cautiously draw some conclusions in Research and Evaluation), and the Basque Government terms of progress made. Department of Education, Universities and Investigation in coordination with the consortium of Looking at the overall results in each area, there is a companies in charge of the management and with the remarkable increase in overall science marks, with IE,state coordinator for all the applications.

nº81. alea 2008 GAURKO GAIAK 17 EUSKADI, HERRI LEHIAKORRA

Leonardo/Erasmus, two education schemes within the European Union

Leonardo eta Erasmus programei esker, In the case of the Basque Country, the project is lanbide heziketako eta unibertsitateko mila mainly used by vocational training students who can thereby train in work centers in other European ikaslek baino gehiagok partekatzen dituzte Union countries. Internships in companies last 12 or ikasketak eta ezagutzak Europar Batasuneko 13 weeks and in most cases they validate the hamazazpi herrialdetako zentroetan. practical work experience unit that the student must complete to obtain the qualification corresponding to he new Lifelong Learning Program that is their professional profile. being developed between 2007/2013, aims to provide exchange, cooperation and mobility Since 2007, professional training students have Tbetween training and education systems in accessed this internship through two programs. Post participating European countries, creating a secondary students join the Leonardo program and worldwide quality reference. higher education and university students go through the Erasmus program. In order to meet that objective in the Basque Country, a joint project was designed in 2004 The result of this joint project between different involving different agents to boost student, teacher agents and the Basque Government is that the and councilor mobility. To carry out said plan, Basque Country has become a point of reference in vigorous work began on the Leonardo da Vinci terms of quantitative participation in these program. programs, in terms of the number of young people involved and also qualitatively, due to the stable This program aims to meet learning and teaching needs relationships that most professional training centers corresponding to everyone involved in professional have established with other European centers with education and training, as well as institutions that similar characteristics. provide or give training.

18 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 THE BASQUE COUNTRY, A COMPETITIVE COUNTRY

2000-2006 LEONARDO II. SOME COMPARATIVE DATA NO. OF PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Finland Sweden Denmark Lithuania UK Ireland France Italy Portugal Germany Austria Estonia Greece Malta Bulgaria Poland Romania

NO. OF APPROVED PROJECTS IN THE BASQUE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY

NO. OF APPROVED RECIPIENTS IN THE BASQUE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY

19 Buildingkonpon peace GORKA ESPIAU

Last November, the University of Columbia’s sit down to negotiate, expressing growing Center for International Conflict Resolution dissatisfaction with answers given by political presented the first report providing leaders for these problems and expressing a clear conclusions on the “Initiative for population demand for greater courage and leadership to build a participation in building peace, Konpondu”. more plural and tolerant society respecting Human Rights.The majority of participants also demand new This article contains its main assessments and spaces for citizen dialogue and that more listening recommendations for the future. forums be organized similar those proposed by this project.

year ago, the Lehendakari, Juan José According to the report, “the transcripts of the Ibarretxe, announced that his government municipal, university and youth forums, as well as would, for the first time, promote holding those held in the diaspora overwhelm the reader with Amunicipal, university, youth and Basque the feeling of both optimism and tragedy that diaspora forums so that citizens could directly offer emanates from them. Optimism because the calls for their proposals and thoughts on building peace in our peace and normalization are alive, eloquent and country. Originally designed to include the voices of sincere. And tragic because the participants are those who normally do not participate in these begging for the violence and civic discussion of debates, this process had to deal with ETA calling off differences to stop, but are conscious that there are their ceasefire and a very complex political and forces that they cannot control and that prevent their social context. Nevertheless, Konpondu has succeeded wishes from coming true”. in getting 105 town halls to join the project in its first year of activity, attracting hundreds of As they presented the report conclusions, the participants to more than 50 municipal forums, University of Columbia spokespersons, William university forums, youth forums and forums run in the Weisberg and Andrea Bartoli, pointed out that Basque diaspora. In parallel, over 20,000 citizen dialogue initiatives on a large scale have taken place opinions have been collected on the internet through around the world, but they had not found one that www.konpondu.net. used a methodology such as this, sponsored by a Government, in a similar context. Providing so many As it relates to a complex subject and stirs up very municipal, university, diaspora and youth forums diverse political feelings, the Technical Board through internet to the population represents an promoting the project asked the University of important commitment by the Basque Government to Columbia’s Center for International Conflict involve the greatest number of people possible to Resolution to analyze the contributions received and achieve peace. Other societies in conflict have rarely write a progress report. This document is available in attempted something similar. On the other hand, various languages through the aforementioned website. asking people for their advice now means that the Basque Government has to provide positive answers to citizens’ contributions. Common themes Another relevant aspect of this initiative is its Despite diverse opinions and proposals, the forum authentic local nature. The idea is not for people to transcripts reveal various common threads. The vast meet in cities or universities only to join another majority of participants ask for the violence to stop great number of voices, but to connect at a local immediately and permanently, requesting that parties level. “Neighbors who had known each other for

20 nº81. alea 2008 du.net

Basque society demands peace and dialogue.

generations without talking about the political mechanisms of citizen participation and its situation have been able to meet now as a group and contribution to a better society. The participants are establish their own community of people committed completely aware that conversation is not enough to to peace. There is a good chance that these local achieve great structural changes and that right now contacts may continue to delve deeper and more only a small group of people have had the spaces will be created for debate and action at a opportunity to participate in the forums, but community level”. everyone would like to see some result so as to believe that their contribution has been useful. At the same time, participants made several Contribution to pluralism suggestions that can be applied to political life and could become important contributions for the The minutes from the forums show that there were future. Specifically, this involves proposals to create clear attempts to raise a wide range of political a culture of tolerance and respect creating new opinions among participants. The majority of the social norms that participants and their neighbors participants in the municipal forums are adults, can put into practice.” since the organizers of youth forums expressed difficulties to get young people to participate in this What does seem to be clear is that many type of organized social discourse. participants took advantage of the opportunity given to express their opinions and suggestions openly and This initiative had two main objectives: offer citizens that the majority of them were satisfied with the the opportunity to participate in building peace and experience. As one of the organizers said, “the most for their participation to contribute to the peace gratifying aspect of the initiative was to see process and policy normalization. Time will tell but skeptical faces as they entered the forums and the in the opinion of the University of Columbia, “this mixture of relief and satisfaction they expressed initiative has done a lot to go deeper into the upon leaving.”

21 nº81. alea 2008 EUSKAL GAZTEAK MUNDUAN

DIEGO ARDOHAIN Gipuzkoako herrian bere txokoa topatu duela baieztatzen du, eta etxean bezala sentitzen dela, nahiz eta bere maitasunik hurbilena Burzaco hirigunean dagoen, handiak irentsi duen auzoan; izan ere, han jaio, hazi eta bizi izan zen, Enpresa Zientzietako lizentzia eskuratu zuen arte.

“I always wondered about the Basques, my roots had a great pull on me, so during my first trip to SEurope I came to Euskadi to find out about my ancestors’ homeland and I ended up meeting all the family we have in Donibane Garazi.” This is how a young Argentinean entrepreneur, Diego Ardohain Mignaburu, sums up his love story with Euskadi, which he conjured up for himself as no one spoke Basque at home. His grandparents and parents were born in Argentina and it was his paternal great grandparents and his maternal great-great- An Argentinean from Burzaco in Bergara grandparents who were born in Iparralde. Six years ago he decided to take a Masters in Finances at the been working there fore ten months others just had to look after University of Mondragón and since when I decided to return to Euskadi themselves. My great-grandfather then, he has lived in Bergara, because I had set up a company to Jean Ardohain – born in Donibane traveling back and forth. bring over Argentinean products. Garazi– met my great-grandmother, “Before making the decision to Through this company, I was given a also from Iparralde, in Argentina. On come and study in Euskadi,” he work visa to work for myself which I my mother’s side, it was my great- comments with his slight Argentinean have renewed for a second time. I great-grandparents who emigrated.” accent, “I met Igor Basauri in the have requested citizenship which I Quality of life and equal Buenos Aires Basque center and we hope to get in March. At the same opportunities are two of the aspects forged a strong friendship. Igor is time I sell tooling machinery in a which appeal to Diego about Euskadi. from Bergara and works for a company in Bergara and I am also a “Everyone has the same chances,which Basque company. In January 2002, paddle monitor in Mondragón.” doesn’t happen in my country now when life got tough in Argentina, I He studied Euskara in an where there is a widening gap between came to Bergara to take a Masters euskaltegi, spent a summer in a social classes.”Trusting other people for a year and a half and I was barnetegi and he now manages to and feeling safe on the streets are other welcomed with open arms: I was able hold his own in personal daily factors which swing the balance in to take up a Basque Government conversations. favor of his decision to stay here.“You grant. My friend Igor, having The history of his paternal always miss your country,or really your returned to his village, introduced me family’s emigration goes back 130 closest friends and family. It’s good to to his friends and they make me feel years. “The traditional inheritance travel because it helps you to see the big very welcome in their group. laws of the time dictated that the picture, but when you emigrate, you Afterwards I worked my way through eldest brother inherited the family have to split your mind in two creating different jobs and returned to homestead. In most families there an internal conflict which is difficult to Argentina at the start of 2003. I had was usually a priest, a nun and the resolve.”

22 BASQUE YOUTH nº81. alea 2008 BASQUE YOUTH

ELI GOROSTEGI

Beti izan du argi argazkigintzan aritu nahi zuela. Gipuzkoako eskola batean eta kalean bereganatu zituen oinarriak. Baina 2004ko otsailean esperientzia berrien bila irten nahi izan zuen, eta Hegoamerika hautatu zuen horretarako. Gaur egun, Buenos Airesen bizi da, bere «atzaparretan» harrapatu zuen hirian.

«Buenos Aires is a city with a lot to offer»

Firstly it was Uruguay, then Buenos organized by the Argentina Photo publish her pictures, although she Aires, later Bolivia, , Journalists Association. “You can knows that it is difficult to study Venezuela and once again Buenos also choose other subjects and I and work at the same time bearing FAires. With just a few pesos and a chose writing. I got in at an in mind “how photographers work, backpack weighed down mainly by advanced level by presenting some with no fixed working hours and her camera and its telephoto lens, of my work. I’d already done two ending up all over the place.” Eli Gorostegi went around getting years, although they have not been Eli Gorostegi is already an old the feel of each country until she recognized here.” hand at the Buenos Aires-Euskadi decided to return to Buenos Aires. She says that what the school route which leads to Hernani, where What was going to be a short stay has given her most is a “different she was born and where her still turned into months and years, and vision of photography. When I family lives. When September she now lives there for most of the started there, I’d learnt practically comes around, she’ll go home to year because “I had the chance to everything I knew in the street. work as a photographer at the San study, and take some photography Buenos Aires has given me the Sebastian International Film courses. I’d have liked to have gone chance to do what I really love. I Festival, where she started out ten to New York, but I don’t speak have even had a private teacher just years ago as an intern. After ten English very well, and I also had to for me, to talk about art. That’s editions, it’s already become “a choose a place I could afford to been a real luxury,” although she tradition” for her which right now live. But also I realized that Buenos already had a reasonable grasp on she doesn’t want to miss. “I have Aires is a city which has a lot to this different vision she talks about, the chance to work in a team, which offer culturally and loads of despite her youth. Her way of is nice, and I try and get some cool theatre, cinema, art in general or looking and her artistic vision have photos. I like portraits best, but to the circus, and what’s more, the been recognized by many of her get a good one, the subject has to people are charming.” colleagues. She is continuing with be involved, letting the camera in ARGRA is the school where she her specific photographic projects and playing my game. But the continues to train as a professional in the Argentinean city, trying to Festival limits the time you have for photographer taking classes make a name for herself and this as you work round the clock.”

nº81. alea 2008 EUSKAL GAZTEAK MUNDUAN 23 EUSKADITIK

The Lehendakari participated in the demonstration defending Basque institutions

Under the slogan “Defending our from the Basque Government’s The communicate, which was institutions”, the demonstration three governing parties to not let read by the journalist Julio Ibarra, held on 26th January in Bilbao the recent sentence from the assured that, with this event “we protested against the Supreme Supreme Court go unnoticed. are not trying to pressure judges or Court ruling against Juan Mari “Gure erakundeen alde. Defending affect their impartiality, but we do Atutxa, Gorka Knörr and Kontxi our institutions” chanted the not want judicial favors or classify Bilbao for refusing to dissolve the simple slogan on the banner our institutions as above the law. parliamentary group Sozialista leading the people’s march which We are simply asking for justice.” Abertzaleak. They are currently denounced the real “strategy” After qualifying the decision by facing fines and a ban on holding against representativity of the the Supreme Court as “one of the office for the crime of Basque People. most serious that representatives disobedience. This was reiterated by the of State power have taken part in PNV, EA and EB called the parties calling the demonstration as against Basque society’s demonstration and assured that the event drew to a close. According democratic will since democracy this event was not linked to the to the PNV, EA and EB, the was established,” he explained forthcoming elections and nor was Supreme Court’s resolution, far that “it is particularly serious due it an attack on judicial powers, but from representing an isolated to the interference with Basque a clear defense of democratic incident, is part of a measured plan institutions, withdrawing privileges institutions. The demonstration, whose latest turn of events involved and revoking legal status, and involving the Lehendakari and the Basque Country Court of Appeal particularly affecting the Basque members of his government, left (TSJPV) rejecting the appeal to Parliament.” He described the from the plaza del Sagrado throw out the case against the parliament as body “whose Corazón and finished in Arenal Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe. independence, self-organization where a manifesto was read by the This would explain the ultimate and legitimacy has been sabotaged journalist Julio Ibarra. objective of this legal offensive: by interference from an outside More than 50,000 people, smoothing the ground towards a power, contravening not just according to the estimation made sentence against the Lehendakari separation of powers but its by the Municipal Police in the for exercising his right and differentiated marked character Bizkaia capital, answered the call responsibility to talk to everyone. within current judicial ordinance.”

24 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 CURRENT EVENTS

international artistic projection The Joaquín Achúcarro and the importance of his teaching work in the Texan centre have been emphasized when setting up the Foundation was created in Dallas entity. The city of Dallas and Southern cultivate and assure the legacy of The foundation is financed by Methodist University, along with this pianist from Bilbao. Achúcarro individual contributions and private other cultural entities in the State has strong ties with Texas, where he donations or from other firms. Its of Texas, has created a foundation has held the Joel Estes Tate chair objectives include supporting young in the name of the Basque pianist at Southern Methodist University pianists’ careers, in addition to Joaquín Achúcarro (Bilbao, 1932), since 1989. Achúcarro’s organizing recitals and concerts. whose good name has been endorsed by worthy distinctions such as being named Universal Basque, Honorary Son of Bilbao or Fine Art academic. Achúcarro has been a teacher at the aforementioned University for several years. Through this foundation, the university will offer master class concerts, sponsoring grants for young pianists and it will work on the musician’s legacy. Since last January, the foundation has been working to

The Basque composer Alberto Iglesias, nominated for an Oscar for the second time. The San Sebastian composer for his work with Almodóvar on Alberto Iglesias will return to the “Hable con ella”, “La mala Kodak theatre in Los Angeles for educación”, “Todo sobre mi the second time on 24th February, madre”, “Carne trémula”, “La as he has been nominated again for flor de mi secreto” and “Volver”, an Oscar, on this occasion for the he has worked for other directors, soundtrack to “The Kite Runner” such as Steven Soderbergh, Oliver by the German Marc Forster. Stone, Bigas Luna, Carlos Saura, In 2006, Iglesias obtained his Imanol Uribe, Alfonso Ungría, first Oscar nomination and Daniel Calparsoro or fellow native recognition for the soundtrack to the of San Sebastian Julio Medem. “The Constant Gardener”, although His films “Vacas”, “La ardilla he did not win on that occasion.This roja”, “Tierra”, “Los amantes del year he will compete with Marianelli círculo polar” and “Lucía y el for “Atonement”, James Newton sexo” all bear Iglesias’s musical Howard for “Michael Clayton”, seal. awards ceremonies which make Michael Giacchino for “Ratatouille” With more than twenty years’ you feel “bad if you don’t win and and Marco Beltrami for “3:10 to experience composing for the ashamed if you do.” Yuma”.This native of San Sebastian cinema and numerous awards – The Oscar ceremony will be on has already been awarded the seven Goyas for best original 24th February, if it is not affected Satellite Award 2007 for “The Kite music among them – which by the film and TV writers strike Runner” and nominated for the endorse his great work, Iglesias in the United States which has Golden Globe Awards. has often confessed that he does been going on for more than two Known throughout the world not enjoy the competitive part of months.

nº81. alea 2008 EUSKADITIK 25 EUSKADITIK

The Basque Innovation Agency, Innobasque, has more than 400 members On 31 January, the Basque and creativity, with the aim of Innovation Agency (Berrikuntzaren increasing competitiveness in Innobasque presents Euskal Agentzia) presented the Basque organizations and its Innobasque project to an audience economy, in the primary, secondary itself as the keystone to of two thousand people in the and tertiary sectors and as a Palacio Euskalduna in Bilbao, and consequence, improve current and the second great Basque introduced its governing body. The future quality of life for all Basque Agency comprises around 400 society.” transformation. leaders from economic, social, Having come through the university, scientific and challenging 1980s successfully, institutions and institutional technological fields. The event was Innobasque wants to be the representatives from the business presided over by Lehendakari central pillar for what is and occupational world. Ibarretxe, also accompanied by considered to be the second great Therefore, Innobasque constitutes members of the Basque Science, economic and social a network of relations between Technology and Innovation transformation for Euskadi, an offer, demand and facilitators, Council. In addition to the unprecedented change in the who share a common long term Lehendakari, we also heard from global economy, which throws up goal: making the Basque Country the Innobasque president, Pedro new challenges, in accordance with the reference point for innovation Luis Uriarte, who explained this the strategic presentation made by in Europe. private association’s proposals and the Lehendakari in the latest In addition to establishing itself levers for transformation which it General Policy debate in the as a European reference point, its is going to use to make Euskadi a Basque Parliament. president highlighted objectives European reference point in terms Innobasque currently has 405 such as creating a small, powerful, of innovation by 2030. members from three major committed professional team and Innobasque is a private, non communities: practically all the achieving total coordination with profit making association. It was agents in the Basque Science, the Basque Government, the Local set up last July, with the task of Technology, Innovation and Governments, SPRI and other “encouraging and boosting Advanced Services Network, public institutions, for Innobasque technological and non technological private companies and to be able to offer itself as a innovation development in Euskadi, organizations interested in strategic ally. promoting entrepreneurial spirit innovation and Basque public

26 CURRENT EVENTS nº81. alea 2008 KANPO HARREMANAK Ana Agirre met 40 representatives from Basque companies working in China

On her first institutional trip to China,the Basque Government Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Ana Agirre, met 40 representatives from Basque companies working in this Asian country. There are currently 83 Basque companies legally working in China, of which 47 have production plants,in sectors such as tool machinery, automotive industry, electrical appliances or aeronautics,among others. The Minister highlighted that the Basque Government has made a Ana Agirre with a group of representatives from Basque companies working in China clear commitment to accompany and support Basque companies as in 2006, when Euskadi was the Government, through SPRI and the they approach this Asian giant and second Autonomous Community in prestigious business school, set up work there;proof of this is the Spain, after Catalonia, in terms of maintain contacts to set up a SPRI representation office in exporting to this country. In the Basque chair on competitiveness Shanghai, which the Minister also 2000-2006 period, Basque exports with the aim of creating and visited. to China grew 402%, whilst on the transferring knowledge on This office has been working whole Basque exports increased competitiveness and promoting since 2003 and to date it has 39% in the same period. Basque business internationally. developed more than 100 projects The Minister also visited the The Minister and the delegation by Basque companies in China. China Europe International accompanying her also visited the SPRI-China supports all types of Business School guided by the Vice- Euskal Etxea in Shangai, where companies taking their first steps in rector,Jianmao Wang.The Basque they were received by the board. the country, accompanying their representatives in all aspects related to setting up, identifying local companies,looking for Human Resources or assessing possible locations. Knowledge of the local market and the particularities of the country are aspects which must be taken very seriously in a country as complex as China. Furthermore, SPRI will house the new EUSKARRI, Basque Business Platform, which the Basque Government will set up in In Kunshan park China. Thanks to this platform, Basque companies who decide to At an event presided over by the Minister, Mondragón Corporación approach this market will have a Cooperativa (MCC) officially inaugurated the Kunshan Industrial Park. Ana physical place where they can take Agirre was accompanied by the president of the MCC General Council, Jose their first steps towards Mª Aldekoa, the mayor of Kunshan, Ai Guo Guan and other dignitaries from commercial or productive set up in this city of four million inhabitants. When the three planned phases which have been completed in 2010, the this country. Park, close to Shanghai and located in an area with a high industrial density, China is already the Basque will occupy a surface area covering more than 500,000 m2 providing jobs for Country’s eleventh most important more than 3000 people, representing a total investment (land, development, international customer, with an buildings, equipment) of over 100 million euros. export volume of 246 million euros nº81. alea 2008 FOREIGN AFFAIRS 27 FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Joseba Azkarraga, alongside Radhames Jiménez, General Attorney of The president of the Supreme Court of Chile, Urbano Marín the Dominican and the Basque Government Minister for Justice, Republic. Employment and Social Security, Joseba Azkarraga. The Minister for Justice, Employment and Social Security signs agreements in the Dominican Republic and Chile.

In January, the Minister for Justice, commitment from education to the Basque Country to find out Employment and Social Security, personnel and detailed programming about the work done there. Joseba Azkarraga, visited the for all activities. This is how, he After this meeting, the Minster Dominican Republic and Chile. concluded, we can prepare minors met the Minister for Work and In the Dominican Republic, the for school, work or social insertion.” Social Planning, Osvaldo Andrade, Minister inaugurated the course for Azkarraga also met the to sign another joint agreement, “Execution of Juvenile Sanctions in Republic’s General Attorney, centered on two fundamental the Basque Country and in the Rhadamés Jiménez Peña, and his aspects: labor security and Lanbide Dominican Republic,” given by the first deputy, Rodolfo Espiñeira, to employment offices, “aimed Penal Execution director, Xabier sign the 2008 Action Plan, within particularly,” emphasized Etxebarria and the head of the the Collaboration and Information Azkarraga, “at creating good quality Juvenile Justice Service, Patxi López Exchange Protocol which was employment, above all, for the least Cabello. signed on 25th January 2005. advantaged communities, such as During his speech, Joseba young people, women and long term Azkarraga highlighted the Modernizing Justice unemployed.” importance of sharing their Minister Andrade also experience in this matter in order to Meanwhile in Chile, the Minister and emphasized the “full employment” tackle juvenile correction properly. the recently named president of this situation in Euskadi and the “shared Centering on the Basque field, country’s Supreme Court, Urbano interest on both sides” to continue Azkarraga highlighted that the 411 Marín, signed a joint agreement to reducing youth unemployment. juvenile measures applied in 2001 modernize Justice, so that the Andrade made the most of the have risen to 1146 (170 involving service offered to citizens “should be meeting to refer to the decision by imprisonment) in 2007; there are provided quickly, transparently and the Basque Department of Justice, currently 82 prison places compared efficiently by public resources.” Employment and Social Security to to 27 seven years. In this respect, After visiting the Santiago financially support work being Azkarraga demonstrated that he Justice Center, the Minister carried out in the Villa Grimaldi was in favor of implanting efficient highlighted that, by signing the Park Corporation for Peace to re-education measures, reserving collaboration protocol, “we aim to recover the historical memory of imprisonment as a last resort (in benefit from each other’s experience people who were killed or who Euskadi this represents 14.8% of which is important to achieve disappeared during Pinochet’s measures carried out). “Pure transparent and smooth running dictatorship. “The agreement we sanction,” he assured, “is not only Justice.” In this respect, Azkarraga have reached,” he said, “means a lot ineffective but also explained that in the next few to me, because I am also a survivor counterproductive. The key elements months, representatives from the of that centre.” of the system are quality, training, Chilean Supreme Court would come

28 KANPO HARREMANAK nº81. alea 2008 MEXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SYDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MEXICO … EUSKAL ETXEAK BASQUE CENTERS VANCOUVER … CHILE … SYDNEY … BUENOS AIRES …

Jon and Nicolás Uriarte, awarded

“Clarín” prizes for sport E

After an extraordinary year reaching the semifinals with Argentina in the World Youth Championship in Mexico, Nicolás Uriarte’s X sports career was boosted by the Newcomer’s Prize from the Argentinean newspaper “Clarín” which declared him

the “best play-maker in the T world.” These awards, where the newspaper recognizes sportsmen and women’s Jon Uriarte Nicolás Uriarte

careers, highlight the fact that E this is “a stimulus, and at the trainer in the World League recover its identity whilst same time a commitment. It is 2006, with a second place in undergoing a renewal process, a stimulus providing incentives group B, based on seven continually led by its for growth and a commitment victories against Portugal (4) ideologist: Jon Uriarte”.

to continue working with the and Finland (3). Now, he is Top players in the Juvenile same energy.” waiting to find out whether he Team are also mentioned “Clarín” also awarded will be able to participate in including Nicolás Uriarte four special prizes including the Beijing Olympics in 2008. again, “Jon’s son, a 1.90 m one to Jon Uriarte, Nicolás’s In the Argentinean press, play-maker with the talent to father, who made his debut as they emphasize that the take on the very best.” Z the Argentinean Volleyball National Team “is looking to E 3000 unpublished photographs by Robert Capa discovered in Mexico

More than 3000 unpublished photographs from the Spanish Civil War taken by Robert Capa have been discovered in Mexico after remaining hidden for 68 years. The pictures were in 127 rolls of film which, in 1940, fell into the hands X of the Mexican General Francisco Aguilar González, who fought in the Mexican revolution under Pancho Villa. Almost 70 years later, the filmmaker Trisha Ziff located the photos through Aguilar González’s descendants. Some of

these pictures were taken by Gerda Taro, Capa’s companion, T and they show combat action and scenes from the Civil War in Spain. Capa is considered the best wartime photographer in history who provided the most gripping portrait of the Spanish Civil War.

Robert Capa E

29 nº81. alea 2008 BASQUE CENTERS … V S M Y A E

D N X I N D 30 I C E C A E U O O Y H S U

K O V … ETXEZ ETXE … A

E … … L

how excited heistoperform in the young musician emphasized Among his projects, of Taiwan. Orchestra from theUniversity and withtheSymphonic Philharmonic in theUkraine playing withtheKiev including challenges for Xavier, 2008 will bring many from BizkaiaandNavarra, ofBasques descendent Blanca, Born in Bahía rising star. and isgenerally regarded asa been building abrilliant career violinist Xavier has Inchausti young Basque-Argentinean the of adevoted professional, withthesecurity Buenos Aires, insoloist theColón Theatre in 12yearsOver as thelast

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which students must attendin January must and students which byintensivemethod isalsosupported classes with minimum classtime for thestudents.The around distancelearning, structured program, the presented ‘Euskara Munduan 2008-2011’ Zinkunegi Haize Hegoa in Montevideo. IbaiOndoko Etxea in Carmelo and Rosario, GureEtxea in federated EuskalEtxeak: Saltoko Euskaldunen Taldea andthreeofthe meeting involved theEuskalEtxea in Salto, The renewed joint agreements withHABE. andtheyhavealso Munduan programme, coordinator ofHABE’sEuskara Zinkunegi, working withJosé Francisco ‘Kinku’ centers, academic year for Euskarain courses Basque Federation (FIVU)hasscheduledthe The Uruguayan BasqueInstitutions E

R U … S T G A E X The youngviolinistXavierInchausti will meetmanychallengesin2008

E N E N C A N HABE andFIVUwilltrain Euskara teachers O

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S COLLECTIBLE S N E W B A S Q U E C U I S I N E 15

Restaurante Zazpirak Bat Rosario (Argentina)

The Zazpirak Bat Restaurant in Rosario has Arantza Soraluce , Itziar Aguirre been awarded the 23rd International Tourism, Hostelry and Gastronomy Trophy as “a real pat on the back, recognition for so many years of effort and work. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but we are immensely pleased and proud,” says Ainhoa Aguirre, one of the partners, along with her mother Arantza Soraluce and her sister Itziar, all “chefs” in this establishment. The award was given to them on 30 January in the Hotel Meliá Castilla in Madrid. Their work is based on honesty, frankness in their cooking and simplicity, taking cuisine passed down to them by their ancestors as their fundamental value. These dishes represent a tradition for them alongside many towns and villages who learnt to turn their needs into an art.

S T U F F E D SARDINES I N G R E D I E N T S P R E P A R A T I O N : -24 large sardines Open the sardines up along their length, remove the -100 g bread crumbs bones. In a frying pan with a little oil, add the -50 g of pine nuts breadcrumbs, pine nuts, parsley, nutmeg, -2 anchovies chopped anchovies and pepper.Fry lightly. Fill -nutmeg the sardines with this mixture. Season with -parsley salt and pepper and lemon juice, sprinkle -pepper with oil and cook in a moderate oven for -oil – bay leaf – lemon around 15 minutes. -12 slices of toast Cook the toast preferably using sliced bread. -2 garlic teeth Rub the slices with garlic and tomatoes cut in -2 round tomatoes half. Serve two sardines on each slice of toast. Sprinkle with parsley.

I N G R E D I E N T S B R E A M W I T H R E D W I N E A N D F R I E D C H A R D -4 bream steaks, 200 g boned and with skin P R E P A R A T I O N : -1 l. red wine Fry the bream steaks in a frying pan 5 more minutes.Thicken with cornflour -1 l. fish stock with a little oil on the skin side, until if necessary. Season -50 g lard golden. Put it in a dish with a little oil Cook the chard in water Cut into -2 shallots and a splash of wine and finish it off in juliennes. Cover in flour and fry in oil. -1 spoonful of cornflour the oven. -oil Fry the finely chopped shallots lightly in In the center,put the chard and then -salt - pepper lard, add the wine and reduce by half. place the bream steak on top, skin side -400 g of chard Add the fish stock and cook up. Add sauce. -flour

nº81. alea 2008 Photo album

Juan Martín Igarzabal, born in Gabiria (Gipuzkoa) and Maria Josefa Garmendia, born in Itxaso (Gipuzkoa), with José Garmendia and Petra Egiguren, both from Itxaso. Photo taken in Rosario, Argentina, in 1913.

Alicia Igarzabal de Echazu Rosario, Argentina

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