The PNV and the PSE-EE will finally assume and comply with one of the demands of EH Bildu in recent years: Public transport for children under 12 years of age shall be free of charge in the three territories: Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. The PNV and the PSE-EE had already said in the previous legislature that this was a proposal without viability.

At the plenary session of 6 October 2022, EH Bildu Unai Fernández de Betoño made the non-legislative proposal, and the PSE-EE Parliamentarian and current First Vice-President of the Basque Parliament, Susana Corcuera, responded to Fernández de Betoño: "Coffee for all does not work [proposed that the measure should not be general, but based on its use], because it is not the most fair thing. You can put the barrier at the age of 12, because an educational cycle ends then. Or at 16, because compulsory education ends at the hour. Or you can put any other barrier (...) You can put any excuse, but this cannot turn into an event fair." [Here you can read the original proposal and the discourse of Fernández de Betoño on page 23, and the answer of Corcuera from page 28]

Socialist parliamentarian Corcuera said that coffee for all was not possible when the Spanish Government, the PSOE, made the Renfe train service available free of charge from 1 September 2022 for a year and a half.

At that plenary session on 6 October 2022, the PNV and the PSE-EE rejected the proposal of EH Bildu and the text adopted contained the following nuances: the use of public transport, supported by domestic economies, will be promoted and promoted, and may become free for the most vulnerable users and groups up to 12 years old.

Free in 2025 until 12 years old

Returning to the present day, the CAV Transport Authority decided at its meeting on 23 December last to raise from 6 to 12 years the barrier of gratuity, as agreed by the Basque Government presided over by Imanol Pradales at the beginning of the political course.

Thus, children up to 12 years old will have free public transport, at least in the means of transport under the Transport Authority, in Euskotren, also managed by Euskotren, and in the Bilbao Metro. The transport authorities of each territory shall determine them in the services for which they are responsible. It is yet to be seen what they will do in Alavabus, Bizkaibus and Lurraldebus, among other places.

Today, only children up to the age of 6 have free public transport, except for the urban bus HABISA of Vitoria-Gasteiz, which, by decision of the City Council, had climbed to the LANGA 12.

Children between the ages of 6 and 12 must obtain a personalized card after the Christmas holidays in order to enjoy the gratuity approved by the Transport Authority. The measure will enter into force from February of this year.

The rest, half price

Like the Spanish Government, the Basque Government maintains its share of public transport subsidies. The Spanish State pays 30% off, and the Basque institutions put the remaining 20%, so that the trip in half price – the Basque Government and 10% the deputies and the municipalities – puts it.

Since 2022 this discount policy of the Spanish Government has been in force. The implementation of the Renfe train service was free of charge, and the Basque Government was forced to apply the discounts because otherwise it was considered to be "unfair competition". Pedro Sánchez has been persecuted by the Jeltzales in the debate on public transport, in the moratoriums, and in the last two years, in the months of November and December, the PNV has reluctantly felt, especially last year.