Governing Council approves 7 million euros in funding of grants for media outlets to tackle disinformation

• Government Spokesperson María Ubarretxena explained that, with this assistance, the aim is also to mitigate the negative impact of artificial intelligence on media content
• Ubarretxena also announced a meeting with Minister of Territorial Policy, ´Ángel Víctor Torres, on 30 July, “to request the urgent formation of a permanent bilateral commission”

The Government Spokesperson today announced the agreements adopted by the Governing Council at its session held this morning.

At the press conference held after the meeting, María Ubarretxena announced the approval of a line of funding worth 7 million euros allocated to be awarded in grants media outlets to mitigate the negative impact of generative artificial intelligence on the creation, drafting and publication of their content and to combat disinformation. 6 million euros will be allocated to regional media outlets, with 1 million to be reserved for local media.

As Ms. Ubarretxena stated, “the government believe that professional media play a crucial role in fulfilling the right to information and are crucial stakeholders in the fight against disinformation and the development of democratic values. This subsidy, therefore, ensures an ecosystem of media outlets close to Basque citizens.

OTHER AGREEMENTS ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL

The Spokesperson also announced the approval of a 2% pay increase for public sector staff, “which will be paid in July and backdated to 1 January 2024". The increase constitutes a cost of 89 million euros, and is provided for in Article 19 and of the Law on the General Budget of the Regional Community of the Basque Country for the Year 2024, establishing the public sector pay policy for staff at the service of the General Administration.

At the proposal of the Department of Governance, Digital Administration and Self-governance, the Basque government will allocate 3.9 million euros to the improvement of telecommunications infrastructure in buildings and the removal of disused antennae and cables from façades. These grants are financed through the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ubarretxena also indicated that this year’s edition, the second, included two new features. "Recipients include public sector bodies and the subsidy awarded will cover 100% of the cost of the actions carried out, up from 70% under the previous funding model.”

At the proposal of the Department of Culture and Language Policy, the Governing Council has authorised the signing of a new collaboration agreement between the Basque Country and the Foral Community of Navarre for the broadcasting of Basque public broadcaster EiTB in Navarre. This gives continuity to the previous agreement signed in 2016 and extended in 2020, ensuring the continued availability of EiTB television and radio stations in Navarre,” the Spokesperson explained.

The Governing Council also approved the appointment of the representatives of the Basque Government on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the Centre for the Memory of the Victims of Terrorism Foundation.

The Spokesperson also announced that at the Governing Council meeting, the Vice Lehendakari and Minister for Culture and Language Policy spoke of the significant Basque representation competing in the París 2024 Olympic Games. 33 athletes, 54.5% of them women, will compete in these Games, the largest representation since Atlanta 1996.

Finally, María Ubarretxena also informed the members of the Governing Council that she will meet with the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, on 30 July next to “urgently request the formation of a permanent bilateral commission to drive the transfer to the Basque government of competencies pending transfer under the Statute of Autonomy and to establish a timeline.” The Spokesperson has said she will attend the meeting “in the spirit for agreement, dialogue and cooperation”.