COALITION AGREEMENT ENDORSED BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES EUZKO ALDERDI JELTZALEA- PARTIDO NACIONALISTA VASCO (EAJ-PNV), EUSKO ALKARTASUNA (EA) AND EZKER BATUA BERDEAK-IU (EB-BERDEAK) TO FORM A GOVERNMENT (8TH LEGISLATURE) INDEX Page PREFACE OUR SOCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE BASQUE COUNTRY 1 POLITICAL UNDERTAKINGS AND BASES OF PROGRAMMES 1.- Shared principles 4 2.- Political commitments: Peace and Political Normalisation 5 3.- Bases of the programme 8 A GOVERNMENT OF PROGRESS I.- A Government in defence of rights and liberties 9 II.- A Government for solidarity and social justice 15 III.- A Government to foster growth and well-being 26 IV.- A Government for equality and educational and cultural development 36 V.- A Government to improve our environment 46 VI.- A Government to project our presence in the world 54 VII.- A modern, efficient administration that listens closely to the needs of its 59 citizens. PREFACE Our social commitment to the Basque Country Preface OUR SOCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE BASQUE COUNTRY Following the elections held on April 17, a new legislature is about to begin in which the inhabitants of the Basque Country have once again demonstrated the plural nature of Basque society. In view of this situation, we must establish a process of open negotiation, without exclusions, between all political forces and viewpoints to reach a series of basic Agreements that will allow us to embark upon a true process of Peace and Political Normalisation. The idea at the centre of the coalition of the three political parties that endorse this Government Agreement is the concept of plurality and mutual respect. The three political forces that have formed this Government accept the tenet of plurality as we consider this to be an asset for any society that respects this principle. Accordingly, our objective is to broaden our agreements and find a common ground among the different political viewpoints present in Basque society. Everyone, society, institutions and political parties, we are all called upon in this legislature to accept non-violence and political dialogue as the cornerstone of a course of action that sets out to resolve the so-called Basque conflict and to move forward in the social construction of the Basque Country. In accordance with these premises (non-violence, dialogue and plurality) the political parties, EAJ- PNV, EA and EB-Berdeak, have adhered fully to the three undertakings made during the last legislature: - The ethical commitment to the defence of human rights and liberties, leading Basque society in its struggle against violence and against a reduction in civil and political rights. - The democratic commitment to respect the wishes of Basque society, materialised in the Proposal for a New Political Statute, passed by absolute majority of the Basque Parliament. - The commitment to the social construction of the Basque Country through progressive policies that have allowed us to advance towards achieving a more just and united society. The political parties, EAJ-PNV, EA and EB-Berdeak, consider that the joint efforts made over the last four years has had a positive effect on Basque society. Considerable progress has been made in ethical and democratic issues, as reflected in the rise in the well-being indicators of the inhabitants of the Basque Country. 1 PREFACE Our social commitment to the Basque Country But we must continue to strive to make progress. We must attain definitive Peace and Political Normalisation and place the Basque Country among the most advanced European countries with regard to social progress. For this reason, we wish to ratify our social commitment to the Basque Country and to join forces to form the new tripartite government the main objective of which is to ensure social stability and to play an active role in the Political Normalisation and Pacification processes. This is our fundamental priority. We know that we will have the opportunity to achieve peace. We know that we will have the opportunity to achieve political normalisation. We know that we will have the opportunity to negotiate and decide our own future. And we wish to make a decisive contribution to this process to ensure that these opportunities are taken advantage of for the benefit of all. Basque society has reiterated its trust in us to lead this new stage in our quest. The three parties that make up this tripartite government, namely, EAJ-PNV, EA and EB-Berdeak, represent 44% of the votes cast in the last elections. We are aware of the fact that this relative majority needs to be increased through agreement and consensus with other parliamentary forces to meet the challenges that the Basque Government must face in this legislature. Our political and institutional responsibility, as well as the demands of Basque society itself, requires that we do so. We accept this responsibility. We, the parties that sign this Coalition Agreement express our will to foster permanent negotiation in order to reach agreements. Our doors will remain wide open, without exclusions. In this sense, Peace and Political and Normalisation, on the one hand, and the Social Progress of the Basque Country, on the other, will be the priority objectives of the government during the next legislature. We understand that these objectives are not the exclusive concern of the government or of the parties that support them, but represent the main aspiration of the immense majority of Basque society. Hence, we reiterate our offer to other Basque political forces to begin talks in earnest with the wish that we can, together, overcome political discrepancies, because peace and the well-being of our society hang in the balance. And we will only be able to make progress in a sincere and fruitful dialogue if we accept the two universal principles on which coexistence in our society is based: - The ethical principle of respect for human rights and the civil and political liberties of each and every one of the inhabitants of the Basque Country. - The democratic principle of a respect for the wishes of Basque society so that it may decide its own future, by exclusively pacific and democratic means. 2 PREFACE Our social commitment to the Basque Country With both these objectives and based on these two principles, we wish to work to create a GOVERNMENT OF PROGRESS structured around two main premises: 1. Peace and Political Normalisation. 2. The social progress of the Basque Country. 3 A GOVERNMENT FOR DIALOGUE, PEACE AND COEXISTENCE Political undertakings and bases of programmes The Government of Progress, formed by EAJ-PNV, EA and EB-Berdeak, is based on the following principles, political undertakings and programmes. 1) Universal principles In this Coalition Agreement, EAJ-PNV, EA and EB-Berdeak, without detriment to the liberty and independence of each party to defend its own political projects and different ideologies, share the following principles: One. 1. We express our commitment to a respect for human rights and to the civil and political liberties of all persons, without exception. 2. We reiterate our support of exclusively pacific and democratic means to resolve the political conflict suffered by the Basque People during our history. 3. We reject all manifestations of violence and the infringement of human, individual and collective rights. 4. Consequently, in the name of Basque society, we urge ETA to express in a clear and unequivocal manner, its firm determination to put a stop to the use of violence for political ends. Two. 1. We defend the principles of dialogue and negotiation without exclusions between the representatives of all the political viewpoints present in Basque society as the essential basis for political normalisation. 2. We advocate the repeal of the Parties Law as an instrument that represents a violation of civil rights and restricts the political representation of a significant part of Basque society. 3. We defend the right of Basque society to decide its own future as a democratic principle, as an instrument of political normalisation and as a common ground for all the political sensibilities that coexist in the Basque Country 4 A GOVERNMENT FOR DIALOGUE, PEACE AND COEXISTENCE 4. We support a broad consensus between Basque political forces with regard to the exercise of our right to decide and we undertake to negotiate an agreement with the State so that the decision of Basque society is reflected within a legal-political framework. Three. 1. We support a process of dialogue between representatives of the State and ETA, in order to bring about a definitive end to the violence. With a respect at all times for the democratic principle that political questions must be explained clearly by representatives of the popular will. 2. We undertake to work actively to ensure the recognition and support of the victims of violence and terrorism. 3. We urge the Spanish government to develop a penitentiary policy that respects human rights and we express our willingness to make any gesture of humanisation and reconciliation that may be necessary to remove violence from our lives forever. 2) Political undertakings: Peace and Political Normalisation. 1.1) A Basque Country in peace We, the representatives of EAJ-PNV, EA and EB-Berdeak, are convinced that during the forthcoming legislature we will have a further opportunity to make Peace a reality. A historic opportunity, possibly, for an entire generation that has known throughout their life suffering provoked by war, violence, terrorism and the violation of human rights. Too much pain, too much suffering for one people. We deserve peace. We demand peace. We have the right to convert our dream into a reality. Peace will be, therefore, the priority issue of the Government and of the Parties that form part of it. We will spare no effort to achieve peace.