Basque Government to manage 246 kilometres of coast from today
From today, the Basque Government will manage 246 kilometres of waters and coastline from Punta del Cobarón, on the western border of Bizkaia, to the Bidasoa river divide between Gipuzkoa and Lapurdi.
As explained in the press conference by the Basque Government's Minister for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, “the development of the Basque coast must generate a new blue economy in line with that defined by the European Union and support the development of this global Basque Country”.
Among other responsibilities, the Basque Government will manage:
- activities of special intensity, danger or profitability like aggregate extraction and dredging
- control of occupation of temporary installations like cafeterias, ice cream and water stands or bars.
- transit and sea access easements
- authorizations for the beach season.
Minister Barredo also explained that 14 employment positions would be transferred to the Basque country. 10 civil servants and 4 employees will have their employment status transferred to the Basque Government.
Cabinet approves draft Transparency Bill
The Cabinet of the Basque Government today approved the draft Basque Transparency Bill. This text is intended as another instrument to ensure transparency in public policies, as explained by the spokesperson and Basque Minister for Governance, Digital Administration and Self-governance, Maria Ubarretxena.
The law, Maria Ubarretxena explained, has three main objectives:
- Expound on the transparency of the administration.
- Foster collaborative governance and the participation of citizens with the aim of creating spaces for deliberation and effective participation for citizens.
- Facilitate the right and access to information, ensuring accountability of actions and initiatives developed in accordance with each Government programme.
The law provides for the creation of the Basque Transparency Authority-Gardena. “It will,” the Minister highlighted, “be an independent body to ensure that the Public Administration complies with its obligations regarding active disclosure and the right of access to information”.
The draft Bill also incorporates further obligations regarding active disclosure. It also establishes the sanction scale for infractions in the area of transparency.
The Basque Government currently has six platforms that guarantee transparency, access to information and follow-up of government action: Gardena, Irekia, Euskadi.eus, Open Data, Legegunea and the public procurement platform.
The Basque Country also has independent bodies like the Commission for Public Ethics and the Internal Information System of Regulatory Infractions and the Protection of Whistleblowers. These bodies ensure compliance with ethical principles and good governance in public institutions and ensure transparency and access to information for citizens.
In the words of Minister Ubarretxena, “this draft Bill, approved today, is another step forward for the government objective of putting in place a new legislative framework for the strengthening of democracy and the institutions.
€28 million of funding for the Gauzatu Industry Programme
The Basque Government has approved the Gauzatu Industry Programme, allocating over €28 million of funding.
The Government spokesperson has indicated that the aim is to drive the creation and development of tech-based SMEs.
The Gauzatu programme is open to industrial extraction, processing, production and services SMEs which must have a technological and innovative base. The programme is also open to companies with a principle activity linked to protection from cyberattacks for industrial companies.
€92.3 million in funding for the refurbishment support programmes
The Cabinet of the Basque Government has authorised €92.3 million in funding for programmes providing assistance for the refurbishment of residential buildings and houses.
With this allocation, from the 2025 budget, the Department of Housing will meet the pending funding for grants already awarded and those in progress, the spokesperson said during the post-cabinet press conference.
This means that the continued budgetary support for beneficiaries of these subsidies is guaranteed for energy refurbishment works on buildings and homes.
“These grants are key to improving the energy efficiency of the Basque housing stock, reducing energy consumption and making moving forward with the decarbonisation of the residential sector,” Maria Ubarretxena said. In total, as of late 2024, €69 million in funding has been delivered.
€4.2 million for the green harvest support programme
The Cabinet of the Basque Government has approved €4.2 million in funding for the “green harvest support” programme for vineyards.
This initiative is part of the Strategic Plan Common Agricultural Policy and aims to support winemakers in managing the production of grapes for winemaking.
Kontsumobide Grants
The Cabinet of the Basque Government has also approved the call of applications of the Kontsumobide programme of grants for associations and entities defending and protecting consumers and users.
The spokesperson explained that the resources allocated for the funding of grants under the current call for applications amounts to €505,820, 5% more than the previous call.
Similarly, the Basque Competition Authority and Kontsumobide will extend for a further four years their agreement for the protection or the rights of consumers and users. The Cabinet has authorised the extension of this collaboration framework aimed at taking advantage of synergies between the two bodies.