- The Basque Government, in meeting with the trade unions, has made ten commitments. Despite the fact that the meeting was approved, the unions have underlined the lack of time due to the forthcoming elections. The ENBA notes that they have little time to carry out the measures, and UAGA insists that commitments cannot be considered “shock measures” because they cannot be met in the short term.
On 8 March, Arantxa Tapia, Economic Development Minister of the Basque Government, met with UAGA, EHNE Bizkaia, EHNE Gipuzkoa, ENBA Bizkaia and ENBA Gipuzkoa. The counsellor presented to the trade unions the ten compromise that the Basque Government is going to take and agreed on the measures announced.
The Government note explains that the report presents a “strategy aimed at strengthening the sector, innovation and improving competitiveness”. A quarterly monitoring schedule is established to assess the progress of the measures taken and to adjust the strategies according to needs.
Union assessments
ENBA welcomes the meeting with Tapia. He indicates that the report covers most of the requests that have been transferred from the unions the previous day, “provided they fall within the competence of the Basque Government”. He explains that they have proposed measures to implement them until the end of the Government ' s mandate, and that although they have received many of their requests, they are aware that “there is little time left for them to do so”. He adds that, in addition to the government, there are also matters for local councils and deputies.
UAGA explains that the commitments presented have been called “shock measures”, but consider that “many cannot be considered shock measures, as they involve working in the medium term and cannot be carried out in the short term”. It recalls that when the elections are convened, the Government will have a maximum duration of three months and that many of these proposals may remain in the “inkwell”.
These are the ten commitments collected by the Department of Tapia (entirely in this link):
Require the competent authorities to adapt Community legislation to regional realities, seeking more flexible implementation and reducing bureaucracy in the management of aid and ensuring that third-country productions comply with the same rules applied to Community productions.
Facilitate the management and processing of aid.
Ensure effective implementation of the Food Chain Law in the CAPV.
Promote efficient and sustainable use of agricultural land to ensure long-term productivity.
Raise awareness of the role of agriculture and livestock in the ecological balance and biodiversity.
Promote the attractiveness of the agricultural sector and the leadership of women for the new generations, reviewing aid programmes and facilitating access to resources.
Adapt the support system to sectoral and territorial realities, providing financial and technical support and contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture and livestock.
Promote artisanal transformation and the purchase of local products, promoting regulations and agreements to support local purchasing.
Optimise the agricultural insurance system by extending coverage and adapting it to the needs of the CAPV.
Promote technological innovation and sustainable practices to improve productivity and reduce environmental impacts.