With nearly a thousand participants, presentations and high-level debates, the Congress produced a new roadmap towards cohesion.
"We wanted to convey the idea that we must build the future together, taking into account all realities and sensibilities, and with the desire to walk together. Today, here, we have marked the path and agreed on the steps to take in the future, with a commitment to cohesion, working together and justice." With these words, President Ana Urkiza closed three intense days of presentations, debates and proposals that attracted almost a thousand people to the Europa Palace in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
In its conclusions, the 19th Congress of Basque Studies has pointed out which must be the levers of change for the construction of a collective future: strengthening and transmission of socio-community values; community empowerment and community building; strengthening of participation and democracy; education and training; importance of civic education; strengthening of cross-border cooperation and inter-territorial alliances; guarantee of the cultural rights of all citizens; sustainable and social economy; technology and innovation; and environmental protection and sustainability. The President of the Congress, Patxi Juaristi, called for "working on these levers of change in a coordinated and integrated way, with the involvement of all social, economic and political agents."
Four lines of work
From there, Eusko Ikaskuntza has established four lines of work for the coming years. The first line will aim to develop Basque culture and identity from its diversity and in an inclusive way.
The second line will focus on community empowerment, promoting the active participation of citizens and the community in the development of initiatives aimed at identifying and satisfying their needs and interests. Education is understood as a key aspect in this area.
In a third line, the challenge of territorial cohesion will be addressed by using the instruments and processes of co-construction of the 21st century, promoting mutual understanding between territories, encouraging deliberation on territorial cohesion and strengthening alliances.
Finally, Eusko Ikaskuntza will continue to delve deeper into the analysis of forms of integral well-being, with the aim of moving towards a socio-economic model based on community work, social justice and sustainability. To this end, it will create a space where innovative socio-economic solutions can be explored.
However, Eusko Ikaskuntza emerges from the 19th Congress strengthened and with a well-defined action plan for the new cycle, always with an eye on the challenge of cohesion.
