The situation in Basque Country after Cease-Fire

The European Greens are pleased with the ceasefire called by ETA. This opens new paths of hope in the Basque society. Though the good news is received with the necessary caution, after long years of disapointments and waiting, the European Greens would like to express, from an ecopacifist perspective, its optimism for a future without violence in the Basque Country. A Basque Country where every citizen, regardless of his or her political background, activity, age, origin or sex has a right to peace and a free choice of his or her future, without any coercion and, at the same time, a right to a democratic and plural modern society.

Today, more than ever, the European Greens think of and build a ceasefire basque scenario. It is necessary to leave to the past the ideologies and divergencies which have monopolized all the attention and energy. It is essential to let the Basque citizens deal urgently and thoroughly with today´s social and ecological crisis.

Citizens have not only the right to live in peace, but also the right to live in a just and sustainable Basque Country. In an ceasefire scenario, “Basque Conflict” can no longer be used to hide the very bad ecological and social management from nationalists or non- nationalists. In a ceasefire scenario, the basque people can open itself to new political options where nationality is no longer the guiding principle but rather the pure fact of being individuals with the will of building up a greener, just and sustainable world. In this new ceasefire scenario, more open and with less excuses, the European Greens want to employ all of its energy so that finally, environmental and social conflicts can be the priority on the political agendas.