Euskal Herria: History, Governance, and Territorial Organization

Euskal Herria: End of the Middle Ages

By the end of the Middle Ages, the seven territories forming Euskal Herria were already constituted as we know them today. In Navarre, Pamplona was established early. In continental Europe, struggles between the crowns of France, Castile, Aragon, and England were determining factors.

The French-Spanish Border

The French state is on one side, with Lapurdi, Lower Navarre, and Soule in the Atlantic Pyrenees. Across the border is the Spanish state, organized since 1978 into autonomous communities.

• The Basque Autonomous Community has a status of autonomy and economic agreement.
• The autonomous community of Navarre retains its privileges with a "pacted" law.

The Autonomous Community of the Basque Country's Constitution

The constitution of 1978 restored the laws that had abolished the Basque regional regime. They created the statutes of autonomy, restoring given privileges.

Basque Institutions

• Parliament: Members, elected by universal suffrage, elaborate and approve laws and control the government's budget.
• Lehendakari: A government with executive power.
• Supreme Court of Justice

Powers

Political affiliation, economic, financial, judicial, health, education, infrastructure, urban planning, environment, culture, and tourism.

Territorial Organization

• Each province has a Provincial Council and General Meetings.
• Municipalities are governed by councils, a mayor, and councilors.

Imbalances

• Demographic: Areas of high concentration and unpopulated areas.
• Economic: Rural areas with insufficient job opportunities and income; urban agglomerations and industrial areas disconnected from cities.
• Social: Differences in quality of life.

Management

Two types of objectives:

1. Define territorial planning instruments.
2. Achieve a territorial model based on sustainable and balanced economic growth.

Instruments

• Territorial Planning Guidelines (DOT): The framework for other planning instruments.
• Partial Territorial Plans: Detail and develop the DOT.
• Sectoral Plans: Ordering activities with regional impact.

Current Model

Based on the concentration of population and economic activities, it has generated imbalances and problems. It requires review and correction.

Objective

To create a new territorial model based on sustained, balanced, and competitive economic growth.

Scale

It is divided into functional areas integrated by a core leadership and the municipalities located within their area of influence. The objective is to optimize planning and meet the objectives set by the DOT. There are 15 such areas.

Conditions

The conditions are the existence of a certain geographic homogeneity, some urban leadership, and behavioral patterns of the population.

Axes

• A system capable of capturing cities and diffusing innovations in a balanced way.
• Protection of functional areas to implement territorial balance policies.
• Planning of the physical environment to exploit opportunities offered for developing innovative and engaging activities.
• Planning of rural, urban, and industrial areas.
• Improved infrastructure.