Minister Amaia Barredo: “The Basque Country is at the forefront of European rural development and fisheries policies”

• May 9, 2025, Europe Day

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, May 8, 2025

Tomorrow, Friday, May 9, is Europe Day, and the Minister for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Mrs. Amaia Barredo, highlights “the work that the Basque Government is doing, together with the institutions and organizations of the primary sector, at the forefront of the European Union's food, rural development, and fisheries policies.”

Mrs. Barredo believes that “the Basque Country works at the forefront with the European institutions—the Commission, the Council of the Union, the Committee of the Regions, and the various sub-national working groups related to agriculture and fisheries—contributing to and developing policies that promote rural and coastal development and, especially as many countries will do in the coming months, fostering positive generational renewal for our youth.”

The Minister indicates that, “at this time of so many rapid changes and an unpredictable international situation, Europe must continue to lead based on the democratic, supportive, and sustainable principles that characterize all the countries and states of the Union, and the Basque Country within it.”

In recent months, Amaia Barredo has participated in separate meetings with the European Commissioners for Agriculture and Fisheries, Christopher Hansen and Costas Kadis, to whom she shared various concerns and proposals for the improvement and development of the sector, both for the Basque Country and for the entire Union.

“They know that our Basque Country, from our location on the Atlantic coast of the EU, works and collaborates in the development of the Union, whose structure is experiencing moments of special attention to the situations created by different people on other continents,” Barredo noted.

“The EU is at a crossroads and faces challenges, both external and internal, that require a unified and strategic response to guarantee its stability and relevance. Our fundamental values ​​of the European Union are respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and human rights. All of these, shared by all Member States, countries, autonomous communities, and regions, constitute the foundation of the Europe we are building, based on a people-centered coexistence”.

“Europe Day is a time to reflect on the achievements and challenges of our European project and to strengthen the sense of belonging of all Basque citizens to a democratic, cohesive Europe committed to the common good” Basque Minister said.

“Many organizations work across the EU to represent young farmers and promote the next generation of sustainable farmers: the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) and the National Rural Networks (NRNs), which have launched various initiatives to raise awareness of the needs of young farmers and highlight examples of good practices; eight Young Farmers Networks develop European collaborative initiatives; and the YOURuralnet Community of Practice (Italian NRN) are some examples”.

“Promoting European policies—in our case, those related to the primary sector—is essential to bringing the European Union closer to its citizens, strengthening cohesion, and ensuring that its principles and objectives are reflected in people's daily lives. An informed and engaged citizenry is essential to building our Europe that is strong, inclusive, and prepared to face global challenges” Amaia Barredo notes.

For all these reasons, Barredo encourages "the youth of the Basque Country and throughout the European Union to participate and create movements that will build our agriculture, livestock, and fishing future. A new direction for a new time."