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Brussel, Belgium.  Representatives of the governments of Euskadi, Navarre and Aquitaine conducted a joint mission, for the first time, before the European Union, where they presented activities and programs that are being carried out in relation to Euskera to the Parliament.

Each delegate represents the highest level of involvement in the field of Basque in each of the three administrations.  On behalf of the Basque Government, Lurdes Auzmendi Deputy-Minister of Linguistic Policy; on behalf of Aquitaine, Frantxua Maitia, director of the Euskararen Erakunde Publikoa, the Public Office of the Basque Language in Iparralde, and representing the Government of Navarre was Maximino Gomez, Director of Euskarabidea, the Basque Institute of Navarre.

The delegation held meetings with the European Parliament member, Tabajdi, Vice-President of the internal group on Minority Languages in the European Parliament, with the Director of Multilingualism of the European Commission, Belen Bernaldo de Quiros, and with Luca Tomasi, from this same area, as well as with representatives of the groups ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe), S&D (Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats) and PPE (Popular Party of Europe).  The meetings also served to gather information on the potential of participating in European funded projects for the present and future fiscal years and included meetings with European Parliament members Pablo Zalba (PP), Izaskun Bilbao (EAJ-PNV) and Eider Gardiazabal (PSOE).

“This first ever joint mission is a huge step forward, and also demonstrates the ever closer working relationship between Euskadi, Navarre and Aquitaine.  It is significant that we present ourselves as united to European institutions.  Europe needs to be our reference and we have to become more involved and maintain more direct contact with institutions, presenting ourselves as a united front at various forums and take advantage of opportunities offered by them,” said Deputy-Minister Auzmendi.

Related links

-Basque Government’s Deputy-Minister of Linguistic Policy’s website
In euskadi.net/euskara

-Public Office of the Basque Language in Iparralde website www.mintzaira.fr

-Website of the Basque Institute of Navarre www.euskarabidea.es