Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The issue of whether the European Union has a role in assisting the development of a conflict resolution process in the Basque Country is solely for the Spanish Government to decide. I am not aware of such an approach on the part of the Spanish Government to the European Union. The Government will be happy to offer support in any way deemed helpful by the Spanish Government, in the event that it decided to seek such assistance.

As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2004 the Basque regional parliament approved a plan proposed by the Basque Prime Minister to replace the existing autonomy agreement for the region, which dates from 1979, with a new agreement which would give the Basque Country the status of free association with Spain. The Basque Prime Minister's plan would also allow the people of the Basque Country to decide by referendum whether they wished to remain a part of Spain. In February 2005, this plan was rejected by the Spanish Parliament. However, at the same time, Prime Minister Zapatero indicated his government's willingness to discuss a new statute for the Basque Country.

In May 2005 the Spanish Parliament approved a resolution proposed by the government authorising it to enter into dialogue with ETA, which has been included on the EU's list of terrorist organisations since December 2001. The resolution makes it clear that the focus of the dialogue will be on bringing an end to violence. It states that terrorism is totally incompatible with democracy and that violence cannot yield a political reward. The resolution requires ETA to renounce violence before the process of dialogue can begin, and states that ETA must dissolve itself and lay down arms.

As regards the discussions on wider political issues, the resolution also stresses the principle of engaging solely with the legitimately elected representatives of the Basque people. To date, however, ETA has not abandoned the use of violence nor committed itself to exclusively peaceful and democratic means. As I have made clear on previous occasions, there can be no place in our democracies for the use, or threat of the use, of force. I am sure the Deputy and all who have the interests of the Basque people at heart will share the hope that there will be early progress on this matter which will, I hope, assist the Spanish Government in the opening of negotiations with elected representatives in the period ahead.

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