The Basque Country, Spain and the European Union: Political organisation and values

The EHU is located in the Basque Country, an autonomous community with approximately 2.2 million inhabitants, comprised of three provinces (often referred to locally as Historical Territories): Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. The main administrative powers that have been devolved to the Basque Government include:

• the management of its various regional government institutions, 
• the capacity to pass laws pertaining to its various areas of responsibility (each province also has its own set of devolved powers, especially in terms of taxation), 
• the organisation and provision of public services such as education, health and transport, 
• the promotion of economic development and the protection of the environment. 

These powers are enshrined in the Basque Statute of Autonomy and bestow on the Basque Country a large amount of autonomy and decision-making capacity in matters that directly affect its territory and population.

The capitals of the three Basque provinces are Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is also the administrative capital of the Basque Country and has 260.000 inhabitants. Located in the geographical centre of Araba, it is home to more than 75% of the province’s predominantly rural population.  The city is the largest capital in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (ACBC), at least in terms of surface area. However, it has a low population density and boasts extensive green areas, making it a very sustainable city that is ideal for those with an active lifestyle who want to live in close contact with nature.

In addition to its beautiful countryside and natural environments, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Araba in general have a rich medieval and prehistoric heritage with numerous buildings and archaeological sites of great historical and cultural interest.

With 350,000 inhabitants, Bilbao is the most populous city in the Basque Country and stretches all the way along the banks of the Nervión estuary, 11 kilometres inland from the Bay of Biscay. The Bilbao metropolitan area is home to between 40% and 45% of the population of the Basque Country, approximately 1,000,000 inhabitants.

Bilbao is a city with a long, rich industrial tradition dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries and rooted mainly in iron mining, steelmaking and shipbuilding. During the final decades of the 20th century, Bilbao underwent a major process of de-industrialisation and urban redevelopment, symbolised by the construction of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, which ushered in a new era for the city, now more focused on the service sector.

Today, Bilbao is a city with a vibrant social and cultural scene and a rich historical and cultural heritage, nestled between the sea and the mountains and surrounded by exceptional landscapes and natural environments.

Donostia/San Sebastián is the capital of Gipuzkoa and has over 190.000 inhabitants. Nestled between Mounts Urgull and Igeldo, the city is located in a stunning setting, facing out to sea with mountains at its back. It has three beaches: Ondarreta, Zurriola and La Concha. With a rich naval and maritime tradition, from the 19th century onwards Donostia-San Sebastián became a popular destination for the aristocracy, a legacy still evident today in its elegant suburbs, Miramar Palace and Victoria Eugenia Theatre.

Known for the San Sebastian International Film Festival, the city is a prominent international tourist destination that nevertheless retains a strong cultural identity, evident in its gastronomic, cultural and historical heritage.

The Basque culture and language are present in a wider region called Euskal Herria in the Basque language. In addition to the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, this region also encompasses the Autonomous Community of Navarre and the southern part of the New Aquitaine department in France (known as Iparralde in Basque).

The Basque Country is one of the 17 Autonomous Communities into which España, a country with almost 50 million inhabitants, is divided. Spain is a parliamentary monarchy based on the 1978 Constitution, which upholds the values of representative democracy, fundamental rights and regional decentralisation.

Since 1986, Spain has been a member of the European Union (EU), a supranational organisation comprising 27 countries representing approximately 450 million people that aspires to increasing cooperation, integration and common governance. The EU is based on values such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Visitors from outside the EU should be aware that the European Union covers a region that extends beyond the SCHENGEN Area.